Sphalerite with Siderite, Eagle Mine, Gilman, Colorado

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Sphalerite ((Zn,Fe)S) is a mineral that is the chief ore of zinc. It consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form but almost always contains variable iron. When iron content is high it is an opaque black variety, marmatite. It is usually found in association with galena, pyrite, and other sulfides along with calcite, dolomite, and fluorite. Miners have also been known to refer to sphalerite as zinc blende and black-jack. Siderite is a mineral composed of iron carbonate FeCO3. It is a valuable iron mineral, since it is 48% iron and contains no sulfur or phosphorus. Both magnesium and manganese commonly substitute for the iron.

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Photo credit: © Phil Degginger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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Keywords: black-jack, blende, colorado, crystal, crystalline, crystals, eagle, geology, gilman, iron, jack, mineral, minerals, ore, rock, rocks, ruby, siderite, specimen, specimens, sphalerite, sulfide, zinc