Sphalerite is a sulfide mineral with the chemical formula S. It is the most important ore of zinc. Sphalerite is found in a variety of deposit types, but it is primarily in sedimentary exhalative, Mis
Black crystals of sphalerite with minor chalcopyrite and calcite
Sphalerite fluorescing under ultraviolet light (Sternberg Museum of Natural History, Kansas, US)
Faceted sphalerite, known by the name of Étoile des Asturies, one of the largest in existence. It actually comes from the Aliva mine, Cantabria (Spain). Cantonal Museum of Geology of Lausanne.
Sphalerite and barite from Cumberland Mine, Tennessee, US
Chalcopyrite is a sulfide mineral composed of copper and iron, and the most abundant copper ore mineral. It has the chemical formula CuFeS2 and crystallizes in the tetragonal system. It has a brassy t
Sphalerite
…it is primarily in sedimentary exhalative, Mississippi-Valley type, and volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. It is found in association with galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite (and other sulfides), calcite, dolomite, quartz, rhodochrosite, and fluorite. German geologist Ernst Friedrich Glocker discovered sphalerite…
Microscopic picture of chalcopyrite
Brass-yellow chalcopyrite crystals below large striated pyrite cubes
Copper-zinc ore sample from a VMS deposit at Potter Mine in Timmins, Ontario, Canada. The brassy-yellow mineral is chalcopyrite- the primary ore mineral at this mine.