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Sphalerite

A valid IMA mineral species

This page kindly sponsored by Mark Kucera

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Sphalerite Gallery Search Photos of Sphalerite

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Sphalerite, etc.

Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland

Sphalerite, etc.

Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai, Russia

Sphalerite

Flamboro Quarry, West Flamborough Township, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Sphalerite

Buckwheat pit, Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA

Sphalerite, etc.

Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland

Sphalerite, etc.

Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai, Russia

Sphalerite

Flamboro Quarry, West Flamborough Township, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Sphalerite

Buckwheat pit, Franklin Mine, Franklin, Sussex County, New Jersey, USA

Sphalerite, etc.

Lengenbach Quarry, Fäld, Binn, Goms, Valais, Switzerland

Sphalerite, etc.

Dalnegorsk, Dalnegorsk Urban District, Primorsky Krai, Russia

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About SphaleriteHide

Formula:

ZnS

Colour:

Yellow, light to dark brown, black, red-brown, colourless, light blue, rarely green

Lustre:

Adamantine, Resinous

Hardness:

3½ - 4

Specific Gravity:

3.9 - 4.1

Crystal System:

Isometric

Member of:

Sphalerite Group

Name:

Originally called blende in 1546 by Georgius Agricola (Georg Bauer). Known by a variety of chemical-based names subsequent to Agricola and before Glocker, including "zincum". Named Sphalerite in 1847 by Ernst Friedrich Glocker from the Greek σφαλεροζ "sphaleros" = treacherous, in allusion to the ease with which dark varieties were mistaken for galena, but yielded no lead.

Polymorph of:

Polhemusite, Wurtzite

Sphalerite Group.

Sphalerite, also known as blende or zinc blende, is the major ore of zinc. When pure (with little or no iron) it forms clear to white crystals (known as cleiophane). Yellow to orange sphalerite is often called 'golden sphalerite'.

Red shades of sphalerite have been called 'ruby blende' or 'ruby jack' in the past.

As iron content increases, sphalerite forms dark, opaque submetallic crystals (known as marmatite or, in the past, 'black jack').

Very rarely, green crystals owe their colour to trace amounts of cobalt (Henn & Hofmann, 1985; Rager et al., 1996).

Sphalerite may also contain considerable manganese, grading into alabandite. Samples containing up to 0.36 apfu (atoms per formula unit) manganese (21.4 wt.% MnO) have been described by Hurai & Huraiová (2011). It can also be mercury-rich and form a series with metacinnabar.

Sphalerite is an important source of rare metals like gallium (Ga) and indium (In), and the semi-metal germanium (Ge). Samples from the Restauradora vein of the Capillitas deposit, Argentina, bears a record, at 24.89 wt% In (and 13.49 wt% Cu) it is, astonishingly, still a sphalerite (Márquez-Zavalía et al. 2024).

See article on the schalenblende variety, by Harjo Neutkens: https://www.mindat.org/a/best_schalenblende

According to Haussühl and Müller (1963), there are numerous polytypes; the ones identified by them are 3R (=3C); 2H, 4H, 6H; and 9R, 12R, 15R and 21R. Note that this can be taken to infer that wurtzite (all the H polytypes) is merely a series of polytypes of sphalerite!

Compare UM1993-16-S:CdInZn and UM1993-15-S:CdInZn.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Sphalerite.

Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:

3727

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:3727:9

Similar NamesHide

Sphaerite

A synonym of Variscite

AlPO₄ · 2H₂O

IMA Classification of SphaleriteHide

IMA status:

Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)

Classification of SphaleriteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):

2.CB.05a

2 : SULFIDES and SULFOSALTS (sulfides, selenides, tellurides; arsenides, antimonides, bismuthides; sulfarsenites, sulfantimonites, sulfbismuthites, etc.)
C : Metal Sulfides, M: S = 1: 1 (and similar)
B : With Zn, Fe, Cu, Ag, etc.

Dana 8th ed.:

2.8.2.1

2 : SULFIDES
8 : A_mX_p, with m:p = 1:1

Hey's CIM Ref.:

3.4.4

3 : Sulphides, Selenides, Tellurides, Arsenides and Bismuthides (except the arsenides, antimonides and bismuthides of Cu, Ag and Au, which are included in Section 1)
4 : Sulphides etc. of Group II metals other than Hg (Mg, Ca, Zn, Cd)

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.

Symbol	Source	Reference
Sp	IMA–CNMNC	Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43
Sp	Kretz (1983)	Kretz, R. (1983) Symbols of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 68, 277–279.
Sp	Siivolam & Schmid (2007)	Siivolam, J. and Schmid, R. (2007) Recommendations by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks: List of mineral abbreviations. Web-version 01.02.07. IUGS Commission on the Systematics in Petrology. download
Sp	Whitney & Evans (2010)	Whitney, D.L. and Evans, B.W. (2010) Abbreviations for names of rock-forming minerals. American Mineralogist, 95, 185–187 doi:10.2138/am.2010.3371
Sp	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019)	The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download

Physical Properties of SphaleriteHide

Lustre:

Adamantine, Resinous

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent

Colour:

Yellow, light to dark brown, black, red-brown, colourless, light blue, rarely green

Comment:

Coloration of sphalerites from the Binntal, CH - varying from yellow to black for nearly identical iron contents - seems to be strongly influenced by the manganese content (Graeser, 1969).

Streak:

Pale yellow to brown.

Hardness:

3½ - 4 on Mohs scale

Hardness:

VHN₁₀₀=208 - 224 kg/mm² - Vickers

Tenacity:

Brittle

Cleavage:

Perfect
Perfect {011}

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Density:

3.9 - 4.1 g/cm³ (Measured) 4.096 g/cm³ (Calculated)

Optical Data of SphaleriteHide

Type:

Isotropic

RI values:

n_α = 2.369

Birefringence:

May show strain induced birefringence

Surface Relief:

Moderate

Reflectivity:

Wavelength	R₁ (%)
400nm	19.6%
420nm	19.0%
440nm	18.3%
460nm	17.9%
480nm	17.5%
500nm	17.2%
520nm	16.9%
540nm	16.7%
560nm	16.5%
580nm	16.4%
600nm	16.3%
620nm	16.2%
640nm	16.1%
660nm	16.0%
680nm	15.9%
700nm	15.8%

Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 19.6%.

Colour in reflected light:

Medium gray

Internal Reflections:

White, yellow, red, brown

Pleochroism:

Non-pleochroic

Chemistry of SphaleriteHide

Mindat Formula:

ZnS

Element Weights:

Element	% weight
Zn	67.094 %
S	32.906 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.

Elements listed:

S, Zn - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Common Impurities:

Fe,Mn,Cd,Hg,In,Tl,Ga,Ge,Sb,Sn,Pb,Ag,Co

Age distributionHide

Recorded ages:

Phanerozoic : 519 Ma to 48.9 Ma - based on 24 recorded ages.

Chemical AnalysisHide

Oxide wt%:

	1
S	29.51 %
Zn	31.03 %
In	24.89 %
Cu	13.49 %
Ga	0.96 %
Cd	0.54 %
Fe	0.05 %
Total:	100.47 %

Sample references:

ID	Locality	Reference	Notes
1	Restauradora vein, Capillitas mining district, Andalgalá Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina	Márquez‐Zavalía, María Florencia, Vymazalová, Anna, Galliski, Miguel Ángel, Laufek, František, Tuhý, Marek, Watanabe, Yasushi, Bernhardt, Heinz‐Jürgen (2024) Indium‐copper‐rich sphalerite from the Restauradora vein, Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina. Resource Geology, 74 (1) doi:10.1111/rge.12325	average of 10 analytical spots

Crystallography of SphaleriteHide

Crystal System:

Isometric

Class (H-M):

4 3m - Hextetrahedral

Space Group:

F4 3m

Cell Parameters:

a = 5.406 Å

Unit Cell V:

157.99 Å³ (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Twinning:

{111}

Crystallographic forms of SphaleriteHide

Crystal Atlas:

Image Loading

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Sphalerite no.1 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Sphalerite no.3 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Sphalerite no.9 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Sphalerite no.13 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Sphalerite no.33 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Sphalerite no.46 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Sphalerite no.53 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Sphalerite no.162 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

Crystal StructureHide

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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4

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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure

ID	Species	Reference	Year	Locality	Temp (K)
0000110	Sphalerite	Skinner B J (1961) Unit-cell edges of natural and synthetic sphalerites American Mineralogist 46 1399-1411	1961	synthetic	293
0018098	Sphalerite	de Jong W (1927) Marmatit und christophit _cod_database_code 1011232 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 66 515-515	1927		293
0018099	Sphalerite	de Jong W (1927) Marmatit und christophit _cod_database_code 1011233 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 66 515-515	1927		293
0018328	Sphalerite	Nitta E, Kimata M, Hoshino M, Echigo T, Hamasaki S, Nishida N, Shimizu M, Akasak T (2008) Crystal chemistry of ZnS minerals formed as high-temperature volcanic sublimates: matraite identical with sphalerite Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences 103 145-151	2008	Iwodake volcano, Satsuma-Iwojima, Kyushu, SW Japan	293

CIF Raw Data - click here to close

data_global
_chemical_name_mineral 'Sphalerite'
loop_
_publ_author_name
'Skinner B J'
_journal_name_full 'American Mineralogist'
_journal_volume 46 
_journal_year 1961
_journal_page_first 1399
_journal_page_last 1411
_publ_section_title
;
 Unit-cell edges of natural and synthetic sphalerites
;
_database_code_amcsd 0000110
_chemical_compound_source 'Synthetic'
_chemical_formula_sum 'Zn S'
_cell_length_a 5.4093
_cell_length_b 5.4093
_cell_length_c 5.4093
_cell_angle_alpha 90
_cell_angle_beta 90
_cell_angle_gamma 90
_cell_volume 158.279
_exptl_crystal_density_diffrn      4.090
_symmetry_space_group_name_H-M 'F -4 3 m'
loop_
_space_group_symop_operation_xyz
  'x,y,z'
  'x,1/2+y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,y,1/2+z'
  '1/2+x,1/2+y,z'
  '-z,x,-y'
  '-z,1/2+x,1/2-y'
  '1/2-z,x,1/2-y'
  '1/2-z,1/2+x,-y'
  '-y,z,-x'
  '-y,1/2+z,1/2-x'
  '1/2-y,z,1/2-x'
  '1/2-y,1/2+z,-x'
  '-x,y,-z'
  '-x,1/2+y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,y,1/2-z'
  '1/2-x,1/2+y,-z'
  'x,-z,-y'
  'x,1/2-z,1/2-y'
  '1/2+x,-z,1/2-y'
  '1/2+x,1/2-z,-y'
  'z,-y,-x'
  'z,1/2-y,1/2-x'
  '1/2+z,-y,1/2-x'
  '1/2+z,1/2-y,-x'
  'y,-x,-z'
  'y,1/2-x,1/2-z'
  '1/2+y,-x,1/2-z'
  '1/2+y,1/2-x,-z'
  'x,z,y'
  'x,1/2+z,1/2+y'
  '1/2+x,z,1/2+y'
  '1/2+x,1/2+z,y'
  'z,y,x'
  'z,1/2+y,1/2+x'
  '1/2+z,y,1/2+x'
  '1/2+z,1/2+y,x'
  'y,x,z'
  'y,1/2+x,1/2+z'
  '1/2+y,x,1/2+z'
  '1/2+y,1/2+x,z'
  '-z,-x,y'
  '-z,1/2-x,1/2+y'
  '1/2-z,-x,1/2+y'
  '1/2-z,1/2-x,y'
  '-y,-z,x'
  '-y,1/2-z,1/2+x'
  '1/2-y,-z,1/2+x'
  '1/2-y,1/2-z,x'
  '-x,-y,z'
  '-x,1/2-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,-y,1/2+z'
  '1/2-x,1/2-y,z'
  'z,-x,-y'
  'z,1/2-x,1/2-y'
  '1/2+z,-x,1/2-y'
  '1/2+z,1/2-x,-y'
  'y,-z,-x'
  'y,1/2-z,1/2-x'
  '1/2+y,-z,1/2-x'
  '1/2+y,1/2-z,-x'
  'x,-y,-z'
  'x,1/2-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,-y,1/2-z'
  '1/2+x,1/2-y,-z'
  '-x,z,-y'
  '-x,1/2+z,1/2-y'
  '1/2-x,z,1/2-y'
  '1/2-x,1/2+z,-y'
  '-z,y,-x'
  '-z,1/2+y,1/2-x'
  '1/2-z,y,1/2-x'
  '1/2-z,1/2+y,-x'
  '-y,x,-z'
  '-y,1/2+x,1/2-z'
  '1/2-y,x,1/2-z'
  '1/2-y,1/2+x,-z'
  '-x,-z,y'
  '-x,1/2-z,1/2+y'
  '1/2-x,-z,1/2+y'
  '1/2-x,1/2-z,y'
  '-z,-y,x'
  '-z,1/2-y,1/2+x'
  '1/2-z,-y,1/2+x'
  '1/2-z,1/2-y,x'
  '-y,-x,z'
  '-y,1/2-x,1/2+z'
  '1/2-y,-x,1/2+z'
  '1/2-y,1/2-x,z'
  'z,x,y'
  'z,1/2+x,1/2+y'
  '1/2+z,x,1/2+y'
  '1/2+z,1/2+x,y'
  'y,z,x'
  'y,1/2+z,1/2+x'
  '1/2+y,z,1/2+x'
  '1/2+y,1/2+z,x'
loop_
_atom_site_label
_atom_site_fract_x
_atom_site_fract_y
_atom_site_fract_z
Zn   0.00000   0.00000   0.00000
S   0.25000   0.25000   0.25000

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Loading XRD data...

2θ (degrees) d-spacing (Å)

Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Powder Diffraction Data:

d-spacing	Intensity
3.123 Å	(100)
2.705 Å	(10)
1.912 Å	(51)
1.633 Å	(30)
1.561 Å	(2)
1.351 Å	(6)
1.240 Å	(9)
1.209 Å	(2)
1.1034 Å	(9)
1.0403 Å	(5)
0.9557 Å	(3)
0.9138 Å	(5)
0.8548 Å	(3)
0.8244 Å	(2)

Comments:

ICDD 5-566 (synthetic). Similar data to that of cerianite-(Ce).

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):

Paragenetic Mode	Earliest Age (Ga)
Stage 1: Primary nebular phases	4.567-4.561
4 : Primary chondrule phases	4.566–4.561
Stage 2: Planetesimal differentiation and alteration	4.566-4.550
5 : Primary asteroid phases	4.566–4.560
6 : Secondary asteroid phases	4.566-4.560
Stage 3b: Earth’s earliest hydrosphere	>4.45
12 : Hadean hydrothermal subsurface sulfide deposits (see also #33)
15 : Black/white smoker minerals and other seafloor hydrothermal minerals
Near-surface Processes
23 : Subaerial aqueous alteration by non-redox-sensitive fluids (see also #47)
High-𝑇 alteration and/or metamorphism
32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits
33 : Minerals deposited by hydrothermal metal-rich fluids (see also [#12])
Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks	>3.0
34 : Complex granite pegmatites
36 : Carbonatites, kimberlites, and related igneous rocks
37 : Layered igneous intrusions and related PGE minerals
Stage 5: Initiation of plate tectonics	<3.5-2.5
38 : Ophiolites
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere	<0.6
49 : Oxic cellular biomineralization (see also #44)	<0.54
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals	<0.36
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals	<10 Ka
54 : Coal and other mine fire minerals (see also #51 and #56)

Synonyms of SphaleriteHide

Lederblende (in part)

Leerblende (in part)

Other Language Names for SphaleriteHide

Bosnian:Sfalerit

Catalan:Esfalerita

Czech:Sfalerit

Dutch:Zinkblende

Farsi/Persian:بلندروی

Finnish:Sinkkivälke

French:Sphalérite

German:Sphalerit
Blende
Brunckit
Brunkit
Marasmolit
Zinkblende
Rubinblende (in part)

Hebrew:ספלריט

Hungarian:Szfalerit

Italian:Sfalerite

Japanese:閃亜鉛鉱

Latvian:Sfalerīts

Lithuanian:Sfaleritas

Low Saxon/Low German:Sphalerit

Norwegian:Sinkblende

Norwegian (Nynorsk):Sinkblende

Polish:Sfaleryt

Portuguese:Blenda

Romanian:Blendă

Russian:Сфалерит

Simplified Chinese:闪锌矿

Slovak:Sfalerit

Spanish:Blenda
Esfalerita

Swedish:Zinkblände

Traditional Chinese:閃鋅礦

Ukrainian:Сфалерит

Varieties of SphaleriteHide

Cadmium-bearing Sphalerite	A Cd-bearing variety of sphalerite. Rather common.
Cleiophane	Cleiophane is colorless to white or green sphalerite due to low contents of Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺. Yellow gemmy sphalerite is called "golden sphalerite." First reported from Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA.
Gallium-bearing Sphalerite	Enrichment in Ga (and other rare elements like, especially, Cd) is quite typical for many sphalerites, and sphalerite may act as an important source of Ga.
Gem Blende	A ruby-red translucent variety of "blende" (= sphalerite). The translucency increases with decreasing iron content.
Honigblende	German name for honey-coloured sphalerite.
Indium-bearing Sphalerite	An In-bearing variety of sphalerite. It is usually also Cu-rich (coupled substitution of Cu⁺ + In³⁺ <-> 2Zn²⁺). In contents close to 22 wt.% are reported by Márquez-Zavalía et al. (2020).
Marmatite	A macroscopically opaque and black, iron-rich variety of sphalerite, with up to 25 wt% Fe, or 40 mol% FeS, usually also Mn-rich, formed at relatively high temperatures.
Mercury-bearing Sphalerite	A mercury-bearing variety of sphalerite. See also Polhemusite.
Mátraite	A densely twinned columnar variety of sphalerite. Discredited as 2006-C. Nitta et al. (2008) showed that the sphalerite is twinned on {111}. Originally reported from Gyöngyösoroszi, Mátra Mts., Heves Co., Hungary.
Pyrophoric sphalerite	A variety of sphalerite that gives off sparks or glows when abraded. Some pieces are so sensitive that the effect is obtained by scratching them with a fingernail (definitions furnished by Frank L. Hess, Mining Engineer, U.S. Bureau of Mines, Collee Park,...
Ruby Jack	Red variety of sphalerite.

Relationship of Sphalerite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:

Sphalerite Group

Other Members of Sphalerite Group:

Browneite	MnS	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
Coloradoite	HgTe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
Hawleyite	CdS	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
Ishiharaite	(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)S	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
Metacinnabar	HgS	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
Rudashevskyite	(Fe,Zn)S	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
Stilleite	ZnSe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
Tiemannite	HgSe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

8,919 photos of Sphalerite associated with Quartz	SiO₂
6,352 photos of Sphalerite associated with Galena	PbS
5,140 photos of Sphalerite associated with Calcite	CaCO₃
5,049 photos of Sphalerite associated with Pyrite	FeS₂
4,073 photos of Sphalerite associated with Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
3,555 photos of Sphalerite associated with Fluorite	CaF₂
2,548 photos of Sphalerite associated with Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
1,930 photos of Sphalerite associated with Siderite	FeCO₃
1,247 photos of Sphalerite associated with Baryte	BaSO₄
874 photos of Sphalerite associated with Marcasite	FeS₂

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping Hide

2.CB.	Richardsite	Zn₂CuGaS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.	Okruginite	Cu₂SnSe₃	Mon. m : Bb
2.CB.	Hanswilkeite	KFeS₂	Mon. 2/m : B2/b
2.CB.	Auroselenide	AuSe	Mon. 2/m : B2/m
2.CB.	Ruizhongite	(Ag₂◻)Pb₃Ge₂S₈	Iso. 4 3m : I4 3d
2.CB.	Agmantinite	Ag₂MnSnS₄	Orth.
2.CB.	Tolstykhite	Au₃S₄Te₆	Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.	Gachingite	Au(Te_1-xSe_x)	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.05a	Hawleyite	CdS	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05	UM1998-15-S:CuFeZn	Cu₂Fe₃Zn₅S₁₀
2.CB.05a	Coloradoite	HgTe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Metacinnabar	HgS	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Tiemannite	HgSe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05b	Sakuraiite	(Cu,Zn,Fe)₃(In,Sn)S₄	Iso.
2.CB.05c	Polhemusite	(Zn,Hg)S	Tet.
2.CB.05a	Rudashevskyite	(Fe,Zn)S	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Stilleite	ZnSe	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.05a	Ishiharaite	(Cu,Ga,Fe,In,Zn)S	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.07a	Unnamed (Cu-Mn-Sn Sulphide)	Cu₂MnSnS₄
2.CB.07a	Shenzhuangite	NiFeS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10b	Talnakhite	Cu₉(Fe,Ni)₈S₁₆	Iso. 4 3m : I4 3m
2.CB.10b	Haycockite	Cu₄Fe₅S₈	Orth. 2 2 2
2.CB.10a	Lenaite	AgFeS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10a	Gallite	CuGaS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10a	Roquesite	CuInS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10a	Eskebornite	CuFeSe₂	Tet. 4 2m : P4 2c
2.CB.10a	UM1984-30-S:CuFeSn	Cu₂Fe₂Sn₃S₇
2.CB.10c	Omariniite	Cu₈Fe₂ZnGe₂S₁₂	Orth. 2 2 2 : I2 2 2
2.CB.10a	Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10a	Unnamed (Cu-Zn-In Sulphide)	CuZn₂InS₄
2.CB.10b	Mooihoekite	Cu₉Fe₉S₁₆	Tet. 4 2m : P4 2m
2.CB.10a	Laforêtite	AgInS₂	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2d
2.CB.10b	Putoranite	Cu_1.1Fe_1.2S₂	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Pn3m
2.CB.15a	Velikite	Cu₂HgSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15c	UM2006-11-S:CuFeGeZn	Cu₈(Fe,Zn)₃Ge₂S₁₂ (?)
2.CB.15a	Hocartite	Ag₂(Fe²⁺,Zn)SnS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15a	Kësterite	Cu₂ZnSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Pirquitasite	Ag₂ZnSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Stannite	Cu₂FeSnS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15c	Stannoidite	Cu⁺₆Cu²⁺₂(Fe²⁺,Zn)₃Sn₂S₁₂	Orth. 2 2 2 : I2 2 2
2.CB.15b	Mohite	Cu₂SnS₃	Mon.
2.CB.15a	Černýite	Cu₂CdSnS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.15a	Idaite	Cu₅FeS₆	Hex.
2.CB.15a	Ferrokësterite	Cu₂FeSnS₄	Tet. 4 : I4
2.CB.15a	Kuramite	Cu₃SnS₄	Tet. 4 2m : I4 2m
2.CB.17a v	Arsenic-bearing Renierite	Cu₁₁GeAsFe₄S₁₆
2.CB.20	Mawsonite	Cu₆Fe₂SnS₈	Tet. 4 2m : P4m2
2.CB.20	Chatkalite	Cu₆FeSn₂S₈	Tet. 4 2m : P4m2
2.CB.30	Frieseite	Ag₂Fe₅S₈ (?)
2.CB.30	Nekrasovite	Cu₂₆V₂(Sn,As,Sb)₆S₃₂	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30	Argyropyrite	near Ag₂Fe₇S₁₁
2.CB.30	Maikainite	Cu₂₀(Fe,Cu)₆Mo₂Ge₆S₃₂	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m)
2.CB.30	Colusite	Cu₁₃VAs₃S₁₆	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30	Germanite	Cu₁₃Fe₂Ge₂S₁₆	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.30	Germanocolusite	Cu₂₆V₂(Ge,As)₆S₃₂	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.30	Stibiocolusite	Cu₁₃V(Sb,Sn,As)₃S₁₆	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.30	Ovamboite	Cu₂₀(Fe,Cu,Zn)₆W₂Ge₆S₃₂	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3n
2.CB.35a	Morozeviczite	(Pb,Fe)₃Ge_1-xS₄	Iso.
2.CB.35a	Renierite	(Cu¹⁺,Zn)₁₁Fe₄(Ge⁴⁺,As⁵⁺)₂S₁₆	Tet. 4 2m : P4 2c
2.CB.35a	Hemusite	Cu₆SnMoS₈	Iso.
2.CB.35b	Catamarcaite	Cu₆GeWS₈	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.35a	Vinciennite	Cu⁺₇Cu²⁺₃Fe²⁺₂Fe³⁺₂Sn(As,Sb)S₁₆	Tet.
2.CB.35a	Kiddcreekite	Cu₆SnWS₈	Iso. 4 3m : F4 3m
2.CB.35a	Polkovicite	(Fe,Pb)₃(Ge,Fe)_1-xS₄	Iso.
2.CB.40	Lautite	CuAsS	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma
2.CB.42	Lingbaoite	AgTe₃	Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.45	Cadmoselite	CdSe	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Rambergite	MnS	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Buseckite	(Fe,Zn,Mn)S	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Maletoyvayamite	Au₃Se₄Te₆	Tric. 1 : P1
2.CB.45	Greenockite	CdS	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.45	Wurtzite	(Zn,Fe)S	Hex. 6mm : P6₃mc
2.CB.47	Murchisite	Cr₅S₆	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : P3 1c
2.CB.50	Zincselenide	ZnSe
2.CB.50	Wassonite	TiS	Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m
2.CB.52	Dzhezkazganite	ReMoCu₂PbS₆ ?	Trig. 3m : R3m
2.CB.55b	Isocubanite	CuFe₂S₃	Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m
2.CB.55a	Cubanite	CuFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.60	Raguinite	TlFeS₂	Orth.
2.CB.60	Picotpaulite	TlFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
2.CB.65	Argentopyrite	AgFe₂S₃	Mon. 2/m
2.CB.65	Sternbergite	AgFe₂S₃	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.70	Sulvanite	Cu₃VS₄	Iso. 4 3m : P4 3m
2.CB.75	Vulcanite	CuTe	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.80	Empressite	AgTe	Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
2.CB.85	Muthmannite	AuAgTe₂	Mon. 2/m : P2/m

Fluorescence of SphaleriteHide

In UV light:

Light colored sphalerite may fluoresce in blue or orange in LW. Fluoresces less strongly, sometimes not at all, in SW or MW.

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:

May be rich in some toxic elements, eg Cd, Hg.

Sphalerite in petrologyHide

An essential component of rock names highlighted in red, an accessory component in rock names highlighted in green.

Metamorphic rock
- Very low to low-grade metamorphic rock
  - Phyllite
    - Quartz-sericite phyllite
- Metasomatic-rock
  - Astorite

Internet Links for SphaleriteHide

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Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project

References and PDF downloads at RRUFF project

American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database

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References for SphaleriteHide

Reference List:

De natura fossilium - Lib. I-Xp.465

Schroll, E. (1953): Über Unterschiede im Spurengehalt bei Wurtziten, Schalenblenden und Zinkblenden. Sitzungsber. Österr. Akad. Wiss. Wien, math.-naturwiss. Kl., 162, 305-332.

Wallerius (1747) 248.

Bergmann (1782).

Glocker, Ernst Friedrich (1847) Generum et specierum mineralium, secundum ordines naturales digestorum synopsis, omnium, quotquot adhuc reperta sunt, mineralium nomina complectens [A synopsis of the genera and species of minerals, according to their natural orders, including the names of all the minerals that have yet been discovered.]. Eduardus Anton. 348 pp. pp.17-18

Jorissen, A. (1887) Sur la présence du mercure dans la blende. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique, 14, CI.

Hairs, E. (1888) Sur la présence du mercure, du thallium et de l'indium dans les blendes belges. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique: 15: CXIV-CXVII (114-117).

Headden, W.P. (1906) Mineralogic notes, III, phosphorescent zinc blendes. Colorado Sci. Soc. Proc.: 8: 167-182.

Palache, Charles (1932) Multiple twins of diamond and sphalerite. American Mineralogist, 17 (7) 360-361

Buerger, N. W. (1934) The unmixing of chalcopyrite from sphalerite. American Mineralogist, 19 (11) 525-530

Brown, John Stafford (1936) Supergene sphalerite, galena, and willemite at Balmat, New York. Economic Geology, 31 (4) 331-354 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.31.4.331

Evrard, P. (1939) Quelques observations relatives aux minéraux zonés de blende et de galène. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique: 63: B104.

Palache, Charles, Berman, Harry, Frondel, Clifford (1944) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 1 - Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, New York.pp.210-215

Evrard, Pierre (1945) Minor elements in sphalerites from Belgium. Economic Geology, 40 (8) 568-574 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.40.8.568

Kutina, J. (1953) Mikroskopischer und spektrographischer Beitrag zur Frage der Entstehung einiger Kolloidalstrukturen von Zinkblende und Wurtzit. Geologie, Berlin, 1, 436.

Smith, F. G. (1955) Structure of zinc sulphide minerals. American Mineralogist, 40 (7-8) 658-675

Rigault G. (1956) Gallio e Indio nella blenda. Periodico di Mineralogia: 43-78.

Kopp, Otto C., Kerr, Paul F. (1958) Differential thermal analysis of sphalerite. American Mineralogist, 43 (7-8) 732-748

Haussühl, S., Müller, G. (1963): Neue ZnS-Polytypen (9 R, 12 R und 21R) in mesozoischen Sedimenten NW-Deutschlands. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 9: 28-39 [in German, with English abstract].

Rooymans, C.J.M. (1963) A phase transformation in the wurtzite and zinc blende lattice under pressure. Journal of Inorganic and Nuclear Chemistry, 25 (3) 253-255 doi:10.1016/0022-1902(63)80050-0

Williams, K. L. (1965) Determination of the iron content of sphalerite. Economic Geology, 60 (8) 1740-1747 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.60.8.1740

Barton, Paul B., Toulmin, Priestley (1966) Phase relations involving sphalerite in the Fe-Zn-S system. Economic Geology, 61 (5) 815-849 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.61.5.815

Manning, P. G. (1966) Cu(II) in octahedral sites in sphalerite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 8 (5). 567-571

Graeser, Stefan (1969) Minor elements in sphalerite and galena from Binnatal. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 24 (2) 156-163 doi:10.1007/bf00376888(Coloration of sphalerites from the Binntal, CH - varying from yellow to black for nearly identical iron contents - seems to be strongly influenced by the manganese content.)

Clark, Alan H. (1970) Arsenian sphalerite from Mina Alcaran, Pampa Larga, Copiapó, Chile. American Mineralogist, 55 (9-10) 1794-1796

Scott, S. D., Barnes, H. L. (1971) Sphalerite geothermometry and geobarometry. Economic Geology, 66 (4) 653-669 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.66.4.653

Scott, S. D., Kissin, S. A. (1973) Sphalerite Composition in the Zn-Fe-S System Below 300°C. Economic Geology, 68 (4). 475-479 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.68.4.475

Fleet, M.E. (1975) Thermodynamic properties of (Zn,Fe)S solid solutions at 850°C. American Mineralogist: 60: 466-470.

Fleet, Michael E. (1977) Structural transformations in natural ZnS. American Mineralogist, 62 (5-6) 540-546

Fleet, M.E. (1977) The birefringence-structural state relation in natural zinc sulfides and its application to the schalenblende from Pribram. The Canadian Mineralogist, 15(3): 303-308.

Schaefer, S.C. (1978) Electrochemical determination of the Gibbs energy of formation of sphalerite (ZnS). U.S. Bureau of Mines, Report of Investigation 8301, 16 pp.

Togari, K. (1978) Colour of Sphalerite. Jour. Fac. Sci., Hokkaido Univ., Ser. IV, 18(3), 283-290.

Maurel, Colette (1978) Stabilité de la blende dans le système Zn-Cd-S. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 101 (4) 406-411 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1978.7209

(1980) Acta Crystallographica: A36: 482.

Shimizu, M.; Shimazaki, H. (1981) Application of the sphalerite geobarometer to some skarn-type ore deposits. Mineralium Deposita, 16 (1). 45-50 doi:10.1007/bf00206453

Schaefer, S.C., Gokeen, N.A. (1982) Electrochemical determination of the thermodynamic properties of sphalerite, ZnS (beta). High Temperature Science: 15: 225-237.

Augustithis, S.S., Vgenopoulos, A. (1982) On the hawleyite-sphalerite-wurtzite-galena paragenesis from Ragada, Komotini, (Rhodope) North Greece. Special Publication of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits: 2: 413-417.

Geilikman, M. B. (1982) Mechanisms of polytype stabilization during the wurtzite-sphalerite transition. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, 8 (1) 2-7 doi:10.1007/bf00311155

Henn, U., Hofmann, C. (1985) Green sphalerite from Zaire. Journal of Gemmology, 19, 416-418.

Barton, Paul B., Bethke, Philip M. (1987) Chalcopyrite disease in sphalerite: Pathology and epidemiology. American Mineralogist, 72 (5-6) 451-467

Dickinson, C., Pattrick, R. A. D. (1987) A TEM investigation of optical variations in sphalerite. Mineralogical Magazine, 51 (359) 127 doi:10.1180/minmag.1987.051.359.13

Toulmin, Priestley, III; Barton, P. B., Jr.; Wiggins, L. B. (1991) Commentary on the sphalerite geobarometer. American Mineralogist, 76 (5-6). 1038-1051

Rager, Helmut, Amthauer, Georg, Bernroider, Manfred (1996) Colour, crystal chemistry, and mineral association of a green sphalerite from Steinperf, Dill syncline, FRG. European Journal of Mineralogy, 8 (5) 1191-1198 doi:10.1127/ejm/8/5/1191

Balabin, A.I. and Sack, R.O. (2000) Thermodynamics of (Zn,Fe)S sphalerite. A CVM approach with large basis clusters. Mineralogical Magazine, 64, 923-943.

Bawden, T.M., et al. (2003): Extreme 34S depletions in ZnS at the Mike gold deposit, Carlin Trend, Nevada: Evidence for bacteriogenic supergene sphalerite. Geology 31, 913-916.

Lusk, John, Calder, Brian O.E (2004) The composition of sphalerite and associated sulfides in reactions of the Cu–Fe–Zn–S, Fe–Zn–S and Cu–Fe–S systems at 1 bar and temperatures between 250 and 535 °C. Chemical Geology, 203 (3) 319-345 doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2003.10.011

(2005) Sphalerite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America

Deore, S., Navrotsky, A. (2006) Oxide melt solution calorimetry of sulfides: Enthalpy of formation of sphalerite, galena, greenockite, and hawleyite. American Mineralogist, 91 (2) 400-403 doi:10.2138/am.2006.1921

Tan, Zheng, Su, Xuping, Li, Zhi, Liu, Ya, Wang, Jianhua (2007) Phase equilibria in the Zn–Fe–S system at 450°C. International Journal of Materials Research, 98 (1) 16-20 doi:10.3139/146.101435

Cook, Nigel J., Ciobanu, Cristiana L., Pring, Allan, Skinner, William, Shimizu, Masaaki, Danyushevsky, Leonid, Saini-Eidukat, Bernhardt, Melcher, Frank (2009) Trace and minor elements in sphalerite: A LA-ICPMS study. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 73 (16) 4761-4791 doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.05.045

Osadchii, Evgeniy G., Gorbaty, Yuri E. (2010) Raman spectra and unit cell parameters of sphalerite solid solutions (FexZn1−xS) Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74 (2) 568-573 doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.10.022

Hurai, Vratislav, Huraiová, Monika (2011) Origin of ferroan alabandite and manganoan sphalerite from the Tisovec skarn, Slovakia. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen, 188 (2) 119-134 doi:10.1127/0077-7757/2011/0183

Cook, N. J., Ciobanu, C. L., Brugger, J., Etschmann, B., Howard, D. L., de Jonge, M. D., Ryan, C., Paterson, D. (2012) Determination of the oxidation state of Cu in substituted Cu-In-Fe-bearing sphalerite via μ-XANES spectroscopy. American Mineralogist, 97 (2). 476-479 doi:10.2138/am.2012.4042

Cook, Nigel, Etschmann, Barbara, Ciobanu, Cristiana, Geraki, Kalotina, Howard, Daryl, Williams, Timothy, Rae, Nick, Pring, Allan, Chen, Guorong, Johannessen, Bernt, Brugger, Joël (2015) Distribution and Substitution Mechanism of Ge in a Ge-(Fe)-Bearing Sphalerite. Minerals, 5 (2) 117-132 doi:10.3390/min5020117

Gurevich, V.M., Osadchii, V.O., Polyakov, V.B., Gavrichev, K.S., Osadchii, E.G. (2016) Heat capacity and thermodynamic functions of sphalerite: Implication to sulfide solid-state galvanic cell measurements. Thermochimica Acta, 641. 14-23 doi:10.1016/j.tca.2016.08.006

Goldmann, Simon, Junge, Malte, Wirth, Richard, Schreiber, Anja (2019) Distribution of trace elements in sphalerite and arsenopyrite on the nanometre-scale – discrete phases versus solid solution. European Journal of Mineralogy, 31 (2) 325-333 doi:10.1127/ejm/2019/0031-2807

Li, M., Barnes, H.L. (2019) Orbitally forced sphalerite growth in the Upper Mississippi Valley District. Geochemical Perspectives Letters, 12. 18-22 doi:10.7185/geochemlet.1929 "(...) banding in sphalerite follows the Milankovitch climate frequencies over 104 – 105 years"

Pring, Allan, Wade, Benjamin, McFadden, Aoife, Lenehan, Claire E., Cook, Nigel J. (2020) Coupled Substitutions of Minor and Trace Elements in Co-Existing Sphalerite and Wurtzite. Minerals, 10 (2) 147 doi:10.3390/min10020147

White, Sarah Jane O., Piatak, Nadine M., McAleer, Ryan J., Hayes, Sarah M., Seal, Robert R., Schaider, Laurel A., Shine, James P. (2022) Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: Implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral. Applied Geochemistry, 143. 105341 doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2022.105341(on valency of Ge in sphalerite)

Márquez‐Zavalía, María Florencia, Vymazalová, Anna, Galliski, Miguel Ángel, Laufek, František, Tuhý, Marek, Watanabe, Yasushi, Bernhardt, Heinz‐Jürgen (2024) Indium‐copper‐rich sphalerite from the Restauradora vein, Capillitas, Catamarca, Argentina. Resource Geology, 74 (1) doi:10.1111/rge.12325

Sun, Guotao, Zhou, Jia-xi, Cugerone, Alexandre, Zhou, Mei-fu, Zhou, Lingli (2024) Germanium-rich nanoparticles in Cu-poor sphalerite: A new mechanism for Ge enrichment. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 136 (7) 2891-2905 doi:10.1130/b37014.1

Barbier, Tristan, Lebedev, Oleg I., Maignan, Antoine (2024) Metal Substitutions (M = Al, Ga, In; Sn, Ge; and Mn, Fe, Co) in ZnS: Sphalerite versus Wurtzite Formation. Inorganic Chemistry, 63 (16) 7189-7198 doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c04374

Xiao, Fan; He, Zongcong; Zheng, Yi; Xiong, Suofei; Cheng, Qiuming (2025) A DFT study on mechanisms of indium absorption in sphalerite (100), (110), and (111) surfaces: Implications for critical metal mineralization. Ore Geology Reviews, 106572 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106572

Luo, Kai; Cugerone, Alexandre; Fougerouse, Denis; Zhou, Jia-Xi; Xian, Haiyang; Yang, Yiping; Saxey, David W.; Motto-Ros, Vincent; Sun, Xiao; Rickard, William D.A.; et al. (2025) Rapid crystal growth promotes the precipitation of nanoscale fluid inclusions rich in halogens and metals in colloform sphalerite. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 398. 119-138 doi:10.1016/j.gca.2025.04.003

Yan, Lei; Fan, Yu; Huang, Jun; Zuo, Tong; Wang, Fangyue; Zhou, Taofa (2025) Formation of nano-CdS solid solution: A mechanism for Cd enrichment in sphalerite. American Mineralogist, 110 (8). doi:10.2138/am-2024-9524

Niu, Pan-Pan; Jiang, Shao-Yong; Muñoz, Manuel; Bonnet, Clément; Mathon, Olivier; Boiron, Marie-Christine; Wei, Hai-Zhen; Xiong, Suo-Fei (2025) Germanium oxidation state and substitution mechanism in Ge-rich sphalerite from MVT deposits: Constraints from X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and geometric optimization. American Mineralogist, 110 (9). 1399-1414 doi:10.2138/am-2024-9485

Significant localities for SphaleriteHide

Showing 44 significant localities out of 27,011 recorded on mindat.org.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the

symbol to view information about a locality. The

symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed.

- This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.

- Good crystals or important locality for species.

- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). ~~Struck out~~ - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.


Austria
Carinthia Villach-Land District Bad Bleiberg Bleiberg-Kreuth ⓘ Max Mine	Niedermayr et al. (1995)

Canada
Ontario Wellington County Guelph Township ⓘ Guelph Dolime Quarry	Mielke (n.d.) +1 other reference

France
Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Isère Grenoble Susville ⓘ Villaret pit	Belot (1978)
Grand Est Haut-Rhin Thann-Guebwiller Steinbach Silberthal ⓘ Silberthalrücken vein	Mines +1 other reference
Occitanie Gard Le Vigan Montdardier ⓘ La Sanguinède mine	J F Carpenter specimen

Germany
Bavaria Upper Franconia Bamberg District Altendorf ⓘ Holzbachacker clay pit	Kirill Vlasov
North Rhine-Westphalia Cologne Oberbergischer Kreis Nümbrecht Wirtenbach ⓘ Büschhof Quarry (Schretzmair Quarry)	Lapis 2005 (30)

Ireland
Leinster Longford County Ballymahon Keel ⓘ Garrycam deposit (Keel Mine)	Flannery (n.d.) +2 other references
Munster Tipperary County Silvermines District ⓘ Ballygown South Mine	Flannery (n.d.) +1 other reference
ⓘ Ballynoe mine (Magcobar mine)	Flannery (n.d.) +2 other references
ⓘ Mogul Mine (Garryard Mine; International Mogul Mines)	Moreton (1999)

Italy
Tuscany Lucca Province Fabbriche di Vergemoli Fornovolasco ⓘ Cava del Ferro (Bùgie mines; Trimpello)	Cioffi M. (Alpi Apuane) +1 other reference
Gallicano ⓘ Zinepri	Biagioni et al. (2008)
Stazzema ⓘ Bottino Mine	Benvenuti et al. (2000)
ⓘ Levigliani mine	Dini (1995)
Pontestazzemese ⓘ Buca della Vena Mine	Orlandi et al. (2004)

Kazakhstan
Karaganda Region ⓘ Dzhezkazgan mining district	RWMW specimen +2 other references

Kosovo
Mitrovica District Mitrovica Trepča complex ⓘ Trepča Mine	Féraud J. (1979) +3 other references

Norway
Buskerud ⓘ Kongsberg silver mining district	Neumann (1944)
Rogaland Karmøy Karmøy Island ⓘ Vigsnes Copper Mines	Torkelsen (1993)

Peru
Ancash Bolognesi Province Aquia District ⓘ Pachapaqui mining district	- (1997) +2 other references
Huallanca District Huanzala ⓘ Huanzala Mine	Imai et al. (1985) +2 other references
Pallasca Province Pampas District ⓘ Pasto Bueno	- (1997) +1 other reference
Recuay Province Ticapampa District ⓘ Hercules Mine	- (1997)
La Libertad Santiago de Chuco Province Quiruvilca District ⓘ Quiruvilca Mine	Burkart-Baumann +2 other references

Poland
Lower Silesian Voivodeship Kłodzko County Nowa Ruda ⓘ Piast Mine	Andrzejewski K. (1993)

Romania
Maramureș County Baia Mare ⓘ Herja Mine	Mârza +10 other references

Russia
Primorsky Krai Dalnegorsk Urban District Dalnegorsk ⓘ Nikolaevskiy Mine	Dobovol'skaya et al. (1990) +3 other references

South Africa
Gauteng West Rand District Municipality Far West Rand Western Sector Carletonville ⓘ Kusasalethu Mine	Wilson (2001)

Spain
Basque Country Guipúzcoa (Gipuzkoa) Mutiloa ⓘ Troya Mine	Calvo et al. (1993) +1 other reference
Cantabria Camaleño ⓘ Áliva Mine	Gómez Fernández et al. (2006)
Murcia Cartagena El Gorguel El Pino ⓘ Lola Mine	[var: Marmatite] Calvo (2003)

Switzerland
Valais Goms Binn Fäld ⓘ Lengenbach Quarry	Graeser et al. (1987)

UK
England Cumbria Eden Alston Moor Nenthead ⓘ Smallcleugh Mine	Dunham K C
ⓘ Nentsberry Haggs Mine
Dorset West Dorset Symondsbury Eype ⓘ Eype Beach	David Baldwin

USA
Connecticut Fairfield County Brookfield ⓘ U. S. Route 7 Expressway (Danbury line to Iron Works District)	Januzzi (1994) +1 other reference
Litchfield County Thomaston Thomaston Dam ⓘ Thomaston Dam railroad cut	Fluorite: The Collector's Choice. Extra ... +7 other references
Woodbury Orenaug Hills ⓘ O & G Southbury Quarry (Silliman Quarry; O & G No. 2 Quarry)	J. Zolan +2 other references
Maryland Carroll County Medford ⓘ Medford Quarry	J. Wingard
Missouri Lewis County ⓘ Durham	Sherwood et al. (1998)
New Jersey Sussex County ⓘ Franklin	[var: Cleiophane]
Tennessee Smith County Carthage ⓘ Elmwood Mine	Kyle (1976) +2 other references
ⓘ Tri-State Mining District	Rocks & Min. +2 other references

Sphalerite

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