Zincite is a rare zinc oxide mineral famously associated with the Franklin mining district in New Jersey. It is highly valued by collectors for its brilliant deep red to orange colors and sub-adamantine luster, typically found in massive, granular, or platy forms.
Is this pharmazincite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch pharmazincite with a known reference. Pharmazincite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Pharmazincite leaves a orange-yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Pharmazincite typically shows a sub-adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, orange, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: lamellar or granular masses.
Often confused with
Pharmazincite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Pharmazincite leaves orange-yellow, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads sub-adamantine on Pharmazincite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
How to tell apart: Pharmazincite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5-3); streak differs — Pharmazincite leaves orange-yellow, Native Copper leaves copper-red; luster reads sub-adamantine on Pharmazincite and metallic on Native Copper.
How to tell apart: Pharmazincite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs — Pharmazincite leaves orange-yellow, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads sub-adamantine on Pharmazincite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
Often found alongside pharmazincite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pharmazincite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- ZnO
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 5.65 g/cm³
- Streak
- Orange-yellow
- Luster
- Sub-adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Lamellar or Granular Masses
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Zinc Ore Bodies
- Typical price
- $20-200 per specimen
Where rockhounds find pharmazincite
Classic worldwide localities
- Franklin, New Jersey, USA
- Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA
- Upper Silesia, Poland
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed zinc ore bodies country — that is the host setting where pharmazincite typically forms. If you start seeing franklinite, willemite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a lamellar or granular masses habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find pharmazincite on the map
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