Sphalerite – Zlatograd, Bulgaria | Ref. 83

Specimen overview

This sphalerite from Zlatograd, Bulgaria, displays a dense group of crystals ranging in colour from dark brown to almost black. Several crystal faces show a strong lustre, while some more translucent areas reveal amber-brown to honey-coloured tones that become particularly visible under the light.

The crystals are closely grouped and vary in size and orientation. The two sides of the specimen reveal both its darkest areas and the sections where the amber reflections are more apparent.

Provenance

This sphalerite comes from Zlatograd, in Smolyan Province, southern Bulgaria. The area forms part of an important mining region in the Rhodope Mountains, where sphalerite occurs in several mines and deposits.

This specimen was collected in 2000.

Composition

Sphalerite is a zinc sulfide mineral with the ideal chemical formula ZnS. In sphalerite crystals, iron can partially substitute for zinc, which is why the formula is also sometimes written (Zn,Fe)S. Its hardness is approximately 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale.

Dimensions

Stone dimensions: 70 × 30 × 40 mm
Weight: 176 g