Zincite is a rare zinc oxide mineral that typically exhibits a deep red or orange color due to manganese impurities. It is most famous for its occurrence in the Franklin and Sterling Hill zinc mines, where it is often associated with fluorescent willemite and franklinite.
Is this zincite?
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 zincite with a known reference. Zincite 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. Zincite leaves a orange-yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Zincite typically shows a sub-adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: deep red, orange, yellow, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive, granular, rarely as hexagonal prisms.
Often confused with
Zincite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Zincite leaves orange-yellow, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads sub-adamantine on Zincite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
How to tell apart: Zincite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 2-2.5); streak differs — Zincite leaves orange-yellow, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads sub-adamantine on Zincite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
Often found alongside zincite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zincite. 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
- 5.6-5.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- Orange-yellow
- Luster
- Sub-adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Rarely as Hexagonal Prisms
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {1010}
- Fluorescence
- Bright Yellow-orange Under LW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Zinc Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-200 depending on size and crystal clarity
Where rockhounds find zincite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Franklin and Sterling Hill, New Jersey, USA
- Poland
- Germany
- Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed zinc ore deposits country — that is the host setting where zincite typically forms. If you start seeing willemite, franklinite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, rarely as hexagonal prisms habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Jersey — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find zincite on the map
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