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Physical Properties of Sphalerite
Cleavage:
{110} Perfect, {110} Perfect, {110} Perfect
Color:
Brown, Yellow, Red, Green, Black.
Density:
3.9 - 4.2, Average = 4.05
Diaphaneity:
Translucent to transparent
Fracture:
Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.
Habit:
Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass.
Habit:
Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.
Habit:
Granular - Generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix.
Hardness:
3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite
Luminescence:
Fluorescent and triboluminescent, Short UV=yellow-orange, Long UV=yellow-orange.
Luster:
Resinous - Greasy
Streak:
brownish white
Optical Properties of Sphalerite
Optical Data:
Isotropic, n=2.37-2.43.
Reflectivity
Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Sphalerite in Air
λ
R
∑ R(λ)
400 nm
18.40
420 nm
18.20
440 nm
18.00
460 nm
17.70
480 nm
17.40
500 nm
17.10
520 nm
16.80
540 nm
16.60
560 nm
16.50
580 nm
16.40
600 nm
16.30
620 nm
16.20
640 nm
16.20
660 nm
16.10
680 nm
16.00
700 nm
15.90
Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Sphalerite in Air
Relative Intensity
0%
60%
100%
120%
180%
240%
300%
360%
420%
480%
540%
R
Calculated Properties of Sphalerite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.85 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Sphalerite =4.08 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.02 Boson Index = 0.98
Photoelectric:
PESphalerite = 35.10 barns/electron U=PESphalerite x rElectron Density= 135.25 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units) Sphalerite is Not Radioactive
Sphalerite Classification
Dana Class:
02.08.02.01(02)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides
Chemical Formula: 
