Sphalerite on quartz plate (Ref-205)

Sphalerite on quartz plate from the Madan (Bulgaria) September 9 mine, year 90.

Stone dimensions: L:85mm x W:60mm

Weight: 85g

Chemical formula and composition: ZnS (zinc sulfide)

Hardness on Mohs scale: 3.5-4

Density: 3.9 - 4.1(Density is a measure of a substance's density. The higher the density, the heavier the stone for a given size).

Color and possible variations: Sphalerite generally comes in brown, black, yellow, red or green. It can be transparent to opaque and often has adamantine (brilliant) chips.

Sphalerite, also known as "blende", has long been used as a primary source of zinc. The name "sphalerite" comes from the Greek word "sphaleros", meaning "deceptive", due to the difficulty of distinguishing it from other similar minerals.