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Chemical Formula: (Zn,Fe 2+)S
Mineral Name: Spharelite
Color:Yellowish brown, orange, red, black, greenish yellow.
Hardness: 3.5 - 4
Specific Gravity: 3.9 - 4.1

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Sphalerite, also known as Blende or Zinc Blende, is the major ore of Zinc. Pure Sphalerite(with little or no Iron) forms clear crystals, usually red (known as Ruby Blende), but as Iron content increases it forms dark, opaque metallic crystals (known as Marmatite).It derives its name from the Greek word "sphaleros", treacherous, an allusion to the ease with which dark varieties were mistaken for galena, but yielded no lead.

Sphalerite is found in the regions in Europe, Australia and North America. Sphalerite also occurs as crystals and as granular masses in cavities and fractures of dolostones.