Wurtzite / Sphalerite
Wurtzite / Sphalerite
Wurtzite / Sphalerite

Wurtzite / Sphalerite

€164,00
SKU: A670
Mererani, Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mountains, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania
A large hexagonal crystal, rarely found.
2.5 x 2.2 x 1.1 cm
12.6 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.