A Geoscience Digital Image Library
A Geoscience Digital Image Library
| Title | Sphalerite, Joplin, Missouri |
|---|---|
| Description | Sphalerite, also known as blende or zinc blende, has composition ZnS (zinc sulfide). It can occur in many hues. This specimen contains both dark brown, coarse, sphalerite, and finer grained resinous yellow sphalerite. Pure sphalerite contains little iron, and may form clear or reddish crystals. Natural sphalerites always contain some iron and as iron content increases the color becomes darker. Red sphalerite is sometimes called ruby blende, opaque metallic varieties are known as marmatite. Sphalerite is the principle ore mineral for zinc. This specimen, which is 11 cm across, comes from the famous mining district near Joplin, Missouri. |
| Location | USA ▹ Missouri. Near Joplin. |
| Photographer | Nessa Eull. 2001-07-10. |
| Collection | University of North Dakota Mineralogy Collection #183. |
| Key words | sphalerite, Missouri |
| Tech details | 1021 KB. Hand specimen. Fujifilm FinePix S1Pro digital camera; 60mm AF Nikon micro lens. |
| GeoDIL number | 1089 |
 | |