Wurtzite / Sphalerite
Wurtzite / Sphalerite
Wurtzite / Sphalerite

Wurtzite / Sphalerite

€18,00
SKU: A665
Mererani, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
Small elongated crystal with excellent faces and good luster for this mineral.
1.7 x 0.9 x 0.9 cm
1.9 g

The rare wurtzite (beta-ZnS) is found in Tanzania as a brown to strong red crystal and crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system. Zinc blende (alpha-ZnS) or sphalerite, on the other hand, crystallizes cubically. In fact, the two minerals are hardly clearly distinguishable visually and require more complex analysis methods. In Tanzania, both are called sphalerite.