HOME
Gold Nugget Gallery
Gold Nuggets
Order Information
Links
|
<< RETURN TO GALLERY
CONTINUE GALLERY >>
SPHALERITE
Sphalerite also known as blende, is an important ore of zinc.
It is usually very dark brown to black in color but occasionally transparent,
yellowish brown or green stones are found that can be faceted.Since sphalerite
is soft and has perfect cleavage it is not suitable for jewelry and is
faceted for museums and collectors only. Sphalerite crystals are usally
pseudo octahedral in shape, forming in hydrothermal veins with other minerals
such as gelena, quartz, pyrite and calcite. Transparent cuttable stones
are found in Santander (spain) and Mexico. In the past sphalerite has often
been confused with gelena (lead sulfide) to which it is very similar. |
|
HOME
Gemstone Gallery
Gemstone page
Demantoid Garnet
Pink Tourmaline
Colorless Garnet
Honey Zircon
Red Beryl
More gemstones
to choose from on the gemstone page
|
