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, so 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, so 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, so 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, 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
How do you identify pharmazincite?+
Where is pharmazincite found?+
How much is pharmazincite worth?+
Is pharmazincite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like pharmazincite?+
What minerals are found with pharmazincite?+
What kind of rock does pharmazincite form in?+
What is pharmazincite used for?+
Find pharmazincite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
