Sphalerite is the primary ore of zinc and is prized by collectors for its high refractive index and dispersive brilliance, which can mimic diamond. It is commonly found in hydrothermal deposits and often occurs as lustrous, dark-colored tetrahedral crystals or massive aggregates.
Is this sphalerite?
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 sphalerite with a known reference. Sphalerite sits at Mohs 3.5-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sphalerite leaves a white to yellow-brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sphalerite typically shows a resinous to submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, black, red, green, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: isometric. Typical habit: tetrahedral or dodecahedral crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Sphalerite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Sphalerite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5); streak differs — Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown, Galena leaves lead-gray; luster reads resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite and metallic on Galena.
How to tell apart: Magnetite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6.5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs — Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite and metallic on Magnetite.
How to tell apart: Cassiterite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-7 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs — Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown, Cassiterite leaves white; luster reads resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite and adamantine on Cassiterite.
Often found alongside sphalerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sphalerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- ZnS
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 3.9-4.1 g/cm³
- Streak
- White to Yellow-brown
- Luster
- Resinous to Submetallic
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Isometric
- Crystal habit
- Tetrahedral or Dodecahedral Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect Dodecahedral
- Fluorescence
- Often Orange to Yellow Under UV
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Ore of Zinc, Collector, Lapidary
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Contact Metamorphic Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find sphalerite
122 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Santander, Spain
- Tri-State District, USA
- Madhan-Kudan, India
- Treptcha, Kosovo
- Broken Hill, Australia
U.S. states with sphalerite
Each link opens a state-specific list of mapped rockhounding spots that produce sphalerite.
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, contact metamorphic deposits country — that is the host setting where sphalerite typically forms. If you start seeing galena, pyrite, fluorite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tetrahedral or dodecahedral crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Missouri, Utah, Tennessee — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find sphalerite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
