Sphalerite


Properties and Data
Physical Properties
Composition
ZnS

Zinc Sulfide
Density
3.9 - 4.1 g/cm3
Mohs Hardness
3.5 - 4
Member of
Sphalerite Group
Crystal System
Isometric
Optical Properties
Type
Isotropic
Refractive Index
n = 2.368 - 2.5
Dispersion Factor
0.163
Additional Information
Otherwise known by Cleiophane, Blende, Zinc Blende, Ruby Blende, Ruby Jack, Marmatite, or Black Jack

Sphalerite is an interesting material in the synthetic world. It doesn't hold a huge amount of uses, but in some very niche material science and optics projects, Sphalerite lenses can be grown for use. The most common form you'll come by are colorless polycrystalline 'ceramic' lenses made of sphalerite. They're useful because of sphalerite's unusually high Refractive Index. The high dispersion accordingly makes for quite colorful stones when cut.

Similarly to Rutile, Sphalerite tends to form quite included and dirty as a natural mineral. However, it can form large gem-grade material in nature. It's not sought after much by the gem industry due to its softness.
Variants and Types
(Undoped / Generic)
(Undoped)
Color: Colorless to Amber
Used for Specialty Optics
Cr:ZnS
Cr:ZnS
Color: Amber to Vermillion
Cause: Chromium Ions
Used for Infrared Lasers, Specialty Optics
Production and Synthesis





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