SPHALERITE CLUSTER
An incredible Sphalerite Cluster. Many terminated crystals clustered together make for an oresome collectable piece. This specimen would grace any collection and is from one of the premier locations for this mineral. A super piece, hard to capture in pics.
Location:
Naica, Mexico.
Dimensions:
5cm x 4.7cm x 3.1cm, 135g.
Sphalerite: ZnS.
Sphalerite, also known as Blende or Zinc Blende, is the major ore of zinc. When pure (with little or no iron) it forms clear crystals with colours ranging from pale yellow (known as Cleiophane) to orange and red shades (known as Ruby Blende), but as iron content increases it forms dark, opaque metallic crystals (known as Marmatite).