Mineral phase
IMA name
Sphalerite
Secondary names
False Galena, Marmatite
Type
Class
non-silicate mineral
Compound type
sulfide
Chemical composition
Formula
Chemical formula
(Zn,Fe)S
Elemental formula
(Zn)0.75-1 (Fe)0-0.25 S
Isotope mixture type
terrestrial abundance
  Formula Name Family Number min-max Isotope mole fraction State Relevance
Zinc element 0.75 - 1 constituent element main
Iron element 0 - 0.25 constituent element main
Sulfur element 1 constituent element main
Composition comments
The variety Marmatite has a high Fe content and is opaque - Common impurities: Mn, Cd, Hg, In, Tl, Ga, Ge, Sb, Sn, Pb, Ag

Strunz

Class
sulfides - sufosalts (02)
Division
metal sulfides, M:S = 1:1 (and similar) (02.C)
Family
With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, etc. (02.CB)
Code
02.CB.05a

Dana

Major class
sulfides (II)
Class
sulfides - including selenides and tellurides (02)
Type
where Am Bn Xp, with m:p=1:1 (02.08)
Group
Sphalerite group (Isometric: F4-3m) (02.08.02)
Code
02.08.02.01
Phase type
crystalline
Crystal system
isometric (cubic)
Crystal class
hextetrahedral
Crystal class symbol
-43m (Td)
Crystal spacegroup
F-43m
Polytypes
  • Sphalerite-3R (or Sphalerite-3C)
  • Sphalerite-2H
  • Sphalerite-4H
  • Sphalerite-6H
  • Sphalerite-9R
  • Sphalerite-12R
  • Sphalerite-15R
  • Sphalerite-21R
Molar mass
95.1 - 97.45
Density
3.9 - 4.2
State NTP
solid
Refringence type
isotropic
Refringence sign
no
Birefringence
0
Refraction index
2.37 - 2.43
Pure color
colorless
Color
brown, yellow, red, green, black
Diaphaneity
transparent to opaque
Luster
resinous
Links