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Sphalerite (Photo) [abbr. Sp ]

Year of discovery: 1847 (World), 1876 (Japan)

Locality list: 2,426 localities of sphalerite

• ZnS
• (Zn,Fe)S
• α-[Zn²⁺][S]^2-

• Class: Sphalerite group
• Class: Sulfide
• Soluble in: HCl
• Magnetism: Paramagnetic
• Fluorescence: UV excitation (Orange)
• Odor: Rotten egg odor (by solving in HCl)
• Paramorph: Replace Sphalerite.
• Incrustation pseudomorph: Replaced by Cerussite or Malachite.

• Polymorph: Wurtzite (β, Hexagonal)

• Zn => Cd: Hawleyite (α), Greenockite (β)
• Zn => Hg: Metacinnabar (α), Cinnabar, Hypercinnabar
• Zn => Fe: Rudashevskyite, Troilite
• Zn => Mn: Alabandite (α), Rambergite (β)
• Zn => Ni: Millerite (β)
• Zn => Cu: Covellite

• S => Se: Stilleite

• Color: Colorless, Yellow, Dark brown, Black
• Streak: Pale yellow, Brown
• Luster: Adamantine
• Diaphaneity: Transparent-Translucent

• Habit: Tetrahedral, Dodecahedral, Fibrous
• Aggregate: Botryoidal, Stalactitic
• Twin: [111] on {111}, Spinel Twin

• Cleavage: Perfect on {011} (3 planes)
• Hardness: 3.5-4
• Density: 4.0

• System: Cubic
• Group: (-4)3m, F(-4)3m
• Lattice: a=5.4

Etymology: Sphaleros (Treacherous) in Greek. Variety of appearance treats us.