Sphalerite
| ZnS
This sample of sphalerite is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Sphalerite is an sulfide mineral of zinc with the composition ZnS. This sample is about 12X12 cm and is from Nenthead district, Cumbria, England. Sphalerite is the most common ore of zinc. It has been called blende and zinc blende.
While sphalerite is usually shiny black, the samples below show the exceptions.
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This sphalerite gem is 18.5 carats and is from Daily Judge mine, Summit County, Utah. The sample of sphalerite at right is from the Aliva mine, Picos de Europa, Catabria, Spain. The gem is 87.9 carats.
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This sample of sphalerite (var. cleiophane) is formed with dolomite. The sample is about 9x8 cm and is from Mine Hill, Frankin, New Jersey. Its composition is written (Zn, Fe)S to indicate that this variation contains iron.
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These sphalerite samples are about 5x5 cm and 8x8 cm and are from Franklin, New Jersey. |
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This 59.5 carat sphalerite gem and sample are from Franklin, New Jersey.
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The sphalerite sample at left is from Trepca mine, Srbija, Yugoslavia and is about 8 cm across. The sample at right is from the San Antonio mine, Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico.
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Sphalerite with quartz from Illinois. Sample size about 20 cm wide. |
This sample of sphalerite with dolomite is about 9cm wide and is from Elmwood mine, Carthage, Tennessee.
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This sample of sphalerite with barite is about 15cm wide and is from Elmwood mine, Carthage, Tennessee.
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Sphalerite with quartz from Nenthead district, Cumbria, England. Sample size about 14 cm wide. |
| This sphalerite sample is about 11x14 cm and is from Joplin, Missouri. |
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Mindat: Sphalerite
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