Sphalerite Mineral Data

Sphalerite Mineral Data
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General Sphalerite Information

Help on Chemical Formula: Chemical Formula: (Zn,Fe)S
Help on Composition: Composition: Molecular Weight = 96.98 gm
   Zinc    64.06 %  Zn
   Iron     2.88 %  Fe
   Sulfur  33.06 %  S
          ______ 
          100.00 % 
Help on Empirical Formula: Empirical Formula: Zn0.95Fe2+0.05S
Help on Environment: Environment: In sulfide ore veins in all rock classes.
Help on IMA Status: IMA Status: Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1847
Help on Locality: Locality: Notable localities are Santander, Spain and Joplin, Kansas. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Help on Name Origin: Name Origin: From the Greek sphaleros - "misleading."
Help on Name Pronunciation: Name Pronunciation: Sphalerite + Pronunciation Say SPHALERITE
Help on Synonym: Synonym: Black Jack
  False Galena
  ICSD 60378
  Mock Lead Ore
  Mátraite - densely twinned
  PDF 5-566
  Zinc Blende
 

Sphalerite Image

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Sphalerite

Comments: Highly lustrous, black, complex sphalerite crystals to 15 mm in size completely covering the top of a sulfide matrix.
Location: Nanisivik mine, Baffin Island, Northwest Territories, Canada. Scale: 6.5 x 7.5 x 1.8 cm.
© Dan Weinrich
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Sphalerite   Ankerite   Dickite

Comments: White, rhombohedral crystals of ankerite and dark gray, metallic sphalerite on beige dickite.
Location: Prego mine, Kladno, Czech Rebublic. Scale: Picture size 2 cm.
© Dave Barthelmy
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Sphalerite   Baumhauerite-2a

Comments: Dark crystal of baumhauerite-2a (same shape as baumhauerite) with olive-green transparent sphalerite crystal on white dolomite.
Location: Lengenbach quarry, Binntal, Valais, Switzerland. Scale: Picture 2 cm tall.
© Walter Gabriel

Sphalerite Crystallography
Help on Cell Dimensions: Cell Dimensions: a = 5.406, Z = 4; V = 157.99 Den(Calc)= 4.08
Help on Crystal System: Crystal System: Isometric - HextetrahedralH-M Symbol (4 3m) Space Group: F43m
Help on X Ray Diffraction: X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 3.123(1), 1.912(0.51), 1.633(0.3),
Help on Forms: Forms:

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Forms: ( 1 1 1) ( 1 1 1)

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Click Here for Large Sphalerite Structure Window Crystal Structure:

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Skinner B J , American Mineralogist , 46 (1961) p.1399-1411, Unit-cell edges of natural and synthetic sphalerites

 

Physical Properties of Sphalerite

Help on Cleavage: Cleavage: {110} Perfect, {110} Perfect, {110} Perfect
Help on Color: Color: Brown, Yellow, Red, Green, Black.
Help on Density: Density: 3.9 - 4.2, Average = 4.05
Help on Diaphaneity: Diaphaneity: Translucent to transparent
Help on Fracture: Fracture: Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
Help on Habit: Habit: Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass.
Help on Habit: Habit: Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.
Help on Habit: Habit: Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.
Help on Hardness: Hardness: 3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite
Help on Luminescence: Luminescence: Fluorescent and triboluminescent, Short UV=yellow-orange, Long UV=yellow-orange.
Help on Luster: Luster: Resinous - Greasy
Help on Streak: Streak: brownish white
 

Optical Properties of Sphalerite

Help on Optical Data: Optical Data: Isotropic, n=2.37-2.43.
Help on Reflectivity Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Sphalerite in Air
λ R  ∑ R(λ) 
 400 nm   18.40   
 420 nm   18.20 
 440 nm   18.00 
 460 nm   17.70 
 480 nm   17.40 
 500 nm   17.10 
 520 nm   16.80 
 540 nm   16.60 
 560 nm   16.50 
 580 nm   16.40 
 600 nm   16.30 
 620 nm   16.20 
 640 nm   16.20 
 660 nm   16.10 
 680 nm   16.00 
 700 nm   15.90 
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Sphalerite in Air
Relative
Intensity		    0%   60% 100% 120% 180% 240% 300% 360% 420% 480% 540%
R                      
 

Calculated Properties of Sphalerite

Help on Electron Density: Electron Density: Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.85 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Sphalerite =4.08 gm/cc.
Help on Fermion Index: Fermion Index: Fermion Index = 0.02
Boson Index = 0.98
Help on Photoelectric: Photoelectric: PESphalerite = 35.10 barns/electron
U=PESphalerite x rElectron Density= 135.25 barns/cc.
Help on Radioactivity: Radioactivity: GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Sphalerite is Not Radioactive
 

Sphalerite Classification
Help on Dana Class: Dana Class: 02.08.02.01 (02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
  (02.08)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1
  (02.08.02)Sphalerite Group (Isometric: F4-3m)
 
02.08.02.01 Sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S F43m 4 3m
 
02.08.02.02 Stilleite ZnSe F43m 4 3m
 
02.08.02.03 Metacinnabar HgS F43m 4 3m
 
02.08.02.04 Tiemannite HgSe F43m 4 3m
 
02.08.02.05 Coloradoite HgTe F43m 4 3m
 
02.08.02.06 Hawleyite CdS F43m 4 3m
 
02.08.02.07 Rudashevskyite! (Fe,Zn)S F43m 4 3m
Help on Strunz Class: Strunz Class: 02.CB.05a 02 - SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulf
  02.C - Metal Sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar)
  02.CB -With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, etc
 
02.CB.05a Hawleyite CdS F43m 4 3m
 
02.CB.05a Coloradoite HgTe F43m 4 3m
 
02.CB.05a Metacinnabar HgS F43m 4 3m
 
02.CB.05a Sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S F43m 4 3m
 
02.CB.05a Tiemannite HgSe F43m 4 3m
 
02.CB.05a Stilleite ZnSe F43m 4 3m
 
02.CB.05a Rudashevskyite! (Fe,Zn)S F43m 4 3m
 

Other Sphalerite Information
Help on References: References: NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990;www.saint-hilaire.ca) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)
Help on See Also: See Also: Links to other databases for Sphalerite :
1 - Alkali-Nuts(English)
2 - Alkali-Nuts(Francais)
3 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
4 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
5 - Athena
6 - EUROmin Project
7 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
8 - Franklin Minerals(Dunn)
9 - Franklin Minerals(Palache)
10 - GeoScienceWorld
11 - Glendale Community College
12 - Google Images
13 - Google Scholar
14 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
15 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
16 - HyperPhysics
17 - MinDAT
18 - Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom
19 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
20 - NSDL Reciprocal Net (JAVA)
21 - Online Mineral Museum
22 - Philatelic Mineralogy
23 - QUT Mineral Atlas
24 - Ruff.Info
25 - Scandinavian mineral gallery
26 - Tradeshop.com - The Rainbow of Gems
27 - WWW-MINCRYST
28 - YupRocks
29 - theimage

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Sphalerite Specimen Label here :

Sphalerite

(Zn,Fe)S
Dana No: 02.08.02.01 Strunz No: 02.CB.05a
Locality:

 

Notes: