Sphalerite (Var. Cleiophane)
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Archaeodontosaurus" title="User:Archaeodontosaurus">Didier Descouens</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mineral NameSphalerite (Var. Cleiophane)
Chemical Formula(Zn,Fe)S
Mohs Hardness3.5
Crystal Systemcubic
Lusterresinous
Streak Colorlight brown to yellowish-brown
Cleavageperfect dodecahedral {011}
Fractureconchoidal
Specific Gravity4
Colorsyellowish-brown, yellow, brown
Transparencytransparent
Type LocalityHuaron Mines, Huaron Mining District, San Jose de Huayllay District, Cerro de Pasco, Daniel Alcides Carrión Province, Pasco Department, Peru
Mineral GroupSulfides
Useszinc ore, collector
Associated Mineralsquartz, tetrahedrite, pyrite
Rarityuncommon
Description
A cluster of transparent to translucent yellowish-brown cleiophane sphalerite crystals, intergrown with clear to milky white prismatic quartz crystals and dark metallic tetrahedrite and golden pyrite.
Geological Context
Sphalerite is a common sulfide mineral typically found in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic deposits, and sedimentary exhalative deposits, often associated with other base metal sulfides.
