Sphalerite Description and Details

 

Sphalerite Description

Sphalerite is a mineral that is the chief ore of zinc. It consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form but almost always contains variable iron. When iron content is high, sphalerite is an opaque black variety called marmatite. The mineral crystallizes in the cubic system.

The structure of sphalerite has a close relationship to the structure of diamond. The hexagonal analog is known as the wurtzite structure. The lattice constant for zinc sulfide in the zinc blende crystal structure is 0.541 nm. All of the zinc and half of the sulfur atoms are positioned at the vertices of a regular tetrahedron; the other half of the sulfur atoms are on alternate tetrahedra at the face centers.

Sphalerite crystallizes in the isometric crystal system and possesses perfect dodecahedral cleavage. Color is variable but is usually brown, yellow, or gray. It has a yellow or light brown streak, a hardness of 3.5–4, and a specific gravity of 3.9–4.1.

Properties

• Formula: ZnS
• Color: Red-orange, brownish-yellow, green-yellow, yellow, green, gray, black, red-brown
• Cleavage: Perfect on {011}
• Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
• Luster: Resinous to adamantine
• Streak: Bright yellow
• Diaphaneity: Transparent to translucent to opaque
• Specific gravity: 3.9–4.1
• Hardness: 3.5–4

Occurrence

Sphalerite is found in association with galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite, dolomite, calcite, fluorite, and barite. It is also often found in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic deposits, and as a replacement mineral in rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and shale.

The largest documented single crystal of sphalerite was a crystal that measured 18 cm × 18 cm × 12 cm in size and weighed 114 kg. It was discovered in the Pomorzany mine, Olkusz, Poland.

Uses

Sphalerite is the most important ore of zinc. Zinc is essential to a wide range of industrial applications and is also an important mineral supplement in animal feed. Sphalerite is also used for optical purposes, as it is a widely available and inexpensive material that can be used as a gemstone, and also as a lustrous black pigment in paint, ink, and rubber.

Sphalerite Healing Properties

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Sphalerite is a mineral that is believed to have healing properties. Some of the properties that are associated with sphalerite are listed below:

• It is believed to help in the treatment of eye problems and to improve eyesight.
• It is believed to help in the treatment of ear problems and to improve hearing.
• It is believed to help in the treatment of digestive problems and to improve digestion.
• It is believed to help in the treatment of skin problems and to improve skin health.
• It is believed to help in the treatment of respiratory problems and to improve lung function.
• It is believed to help in the treatment of reproductive problems and to improve fertility.
• It is believed to help in the treatment of mental health problems and to improve emotional well-being.
• It is believed to help in the treatment of physical health problems and to improve overall health.