Sphalerite is the world’s primary ore of zinc and the source of nearly all collectable Zn-bearing crystal specimens. Its (Zn,Fe)S chemistry produces the full color range from honey-yellow “cleiophane” through ruby-red “marmatite” to opaque iron-rich black. Tetrahedral and dodecahedral crystal forms with adamantine luster make sphalerite a perennial collector favorite.
Key Facts
- Mohs hardness 3.5–4 — softer than fluorite.
- Six perfect cleavage directions (rhombic dodecahedral).
- Iron content controls color: low-Fe varieties are honey to red-orange (gem-grade), high-Fe varieties are nearly black.
- Often associated with galena, pyrite, and chalcopyrite in lead-zinc deposits.
- Famous for “ruby jack” gem material from Spain (Picos de Europa) and “cleiophane” from Tennessee.
Notable Chinese Localities
Dexing (Jiangxi) and Daye (Hubei) produce dark high-Fe sphalerite as porphyry copper byproduct. Yaogangxian (Hunan) and Huanggang (Inner Mongolia) yield gemmy crystals up to several cm.
Found at these Localities
- Oumjrane Mining Area (奥姆贾兰矿区)
- Imiter Mine (伊米泰尔银矿)
- Tri-State Mining District (Joplin) (三州矿区(乔普林))
- Naica Mine, Chihuahua (纳伊卡矿(奇瓦瓦州))
- Příbram (普日布拉姆银矿)
- Broken Hill (布罗肯希尔铅锌银矿)
- Panasqueira (帕纳斯凯拉钨矿)
- Sweet Home Mine (甜蜜之家矿)
- Heqing Cu-Ag-Pb-Zn District (鹤庆铜银铅锌矿区)
- Ying Silver Mine (银矿(豫西银多金属矿带))
- Lanping Pb-Zn-Cu Field (兰坪铅锌铜矿田)
- Dachang Tin-Polymetallic Field (大厂锡多金属矿田)
- Daye District (大冶)
- Huanggang Mine (黄岗梁铁锡矿)
- Yaogangxian Mine (瑶岗仙矿)
- Inner Mongolia (内蒙古)
- Hubei (湖北)
- Jiangxi (江西)
- Hunan (湖南)
Available Products of Sphalerite
2 available specimens
