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Sphalerite ((Zn,Fe)S) NS0419 |
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| Crystal system | isometric. |
| Habit | massive, granular, stalactitic or botryoidal; crystals are usually tetrahedral or pseudo-octahedral with rounded edges. |
| Cleavage | perfect. |
| Fracture | conchoidal. |
| Hardness | 3.5-4 |
| Specific Gravity | 4.2 |
| Color | brown, black, yellow, green, red, gray, white or colorless. |
| Luster | transparent to translucent with an adamantine streak. |
| Streak | pale brown to pale yellow. |
| Distinguishing features | soluble in HCl acid, which causes the mineral to give off hydrogen sulfide fumes. |
| Uses | this is the main ore for zinc and is found in association with cadmium, gallium and indium; it is also a component of brass. |
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