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Sphalerite
Sphalerite is sulfides, (Zn,Fe)S. In the hand, it rates 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, and it runs honey yellow and red-brown ('ruby jack'). Resinous honey-to-black crystals that flash from six cleavage directions and smell faintly of sulfur when scratched, the main ore of zinc and the great trickster of ore minerals.
The geology.
Sphalerite carries the formula (Zn,Fe)S. It belongs to the cubic system. The trade files it under sulfides.
It sits at 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale. The surface reads resinous to adamantine. Light behaviour is transparent to nearly opaque. Specific gravity runs 3.9 to 4.1. The streak is pale yellow to light brown. It breaks with perfect dodecahedral cleavage (six directions); conchoidal fracture.
Resinous honey-to-black crystals that flash from six cleavage directions and smell faintly of sulfur when scratched, the main ore of zinc and the great trickster of ore minerals.
Common cuts are tetrahedral crystals, cleavable masses, botryoidal crusts or faceted collector gems.
The origins.
The world's zinc ore, Tri-State district (Missouri-Kansas-Oklahoma), Elmwood (Tennessee) gemmy ambers, Spain, Bulgaria, Mexico.
On value, the database notes: ore-grade cheap; gemmy Elmwood crystals and faceted stones are prized.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, sphalerite is described as grounding and a check against deception, fitting for a mineral nicknamed for trickery.
Included for completeness. Tradition is worth knowing about, and it is worth keeping separate from the mineralogy.
Spotting the real thing.
Resinous honey-to-black crystals that flash from six cleavage directions and smell faintly of sulfur when scratched, the main ore of zinc and the great trickster of ore minerals.
Its name comes from Greek for 'treacherous' because miners confused it with lead ore, today the deception runs the other way: gemmy 'golden sphalerite' faceted stones are real but fragile, so check for chipped facet edges.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Galena | Galena is metallic silver-grey with cubic cleavage and triple the heft feel |
| Cassiterite | Cassiterite is far harder (6 to 7) and heavier with no resinous glow |
| Garnet | Garnet is hard (6.5+), no cleavage, no sulfur scent on the streak plate |
At-home tests.
These checks cost nothing. Daylight, a 10x loupe and a little patience are the whole kit for sphalerite.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Streak smells faintly of rotten eggs (hydrogen sulfide) |
| By eye | Six-direction cleavage sparkle is unmistakable once seen |
| Scratch check | Soft for its adamantine look, a knife scratches it |
Anything that scratches, burns or dissolves the piece is a lab job. Get it appraised rather than testing it apart.
Care & handling.
At 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale this is a soft material. Keep it as a display piece, store it apart from harder stones, and skip daily-wear settings.
It breaks with perfect dodecahedral cleavage (six directions); conchoidal fracture, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Warm water and a soft cloth clean almost everything. Ultrasonic tanks, steamers and household cleaners are where pieces get ruined.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is (Zn,Fe)S. Crystal system: Cubic. Specific gravity: 3.9 to 4.1. Streak: Pale yellow to light brown. Cleavage and fracture: Perfect dodecahedral cleavage (six directions); conchoidal fracture.
How it reaches the market
The world's zinc ore, Tri-State district (Missouri-Kansas-Oklahoma), Elmwood (Tennessee) gemmy ambers, Spain, Bulgaria, Mexico.
What it gets confused with
Galena: Galena is metallic silver-grey with cubic cleavage and triple the heft feel. Cassiterite: Cassiterite is far harder (6 to 7) and heavier with no resinous glow. Garnet: Garnet is hard (6.5+), no cleavage, no sulfur scent on the streak plate.
What it is worth
Ore-grade cheap; gemmy Elmwood crystals and faceted stones are prized.
Where buyers get caught
Its name comes from Greek for 'treacherous' because miners confused it with lead ore, today the deception runs the other way: gemmy 'golden sphalerite' faceted stones are real but fragile, so check for chipped facet edges.
One more thing
Faceted sphalerite has dispersion three times diamond's, a properly cut stone is a fireworks show, but at hardness 4 with six cleavages it's strictly a display gem cutters cut for bragging rights.
An education-first guide.
No product links here. We do not sell sphalerite, and a guide that only covers our own shelves would not be much of a guide.
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