Green blende Ref442

Green blende (cleophane) from Madan Bulgaria (year 2008).

Dimensions: 41mm x 23mm x H: 30mm.

Weight with base: 70g.

Blende, also known as sphalerite, is a zinc sulfide (ZnS) with brilliant crystals.

Chemical composition: ZnS (zinc sulfide), sometimes enriched with traces of iron, copper or other elements, which influence its color and composition.

Formation: Blende crystallizes in the cubic system and can form in hydrothermal environments, often in association with other minerals such as galena, calcite or fluorite.

Notable varieties of blende:

Marmatite: Significant presence of iron, giving a black or dark brown color.

Cleophane (or cleiophane): A rare green variety, often attributed to Bulgarian specimens, although other localities also produce similar samples.

Sphalerite: Shades of orange-red to deep red.