Collection: Sphalerite

Sphalerite is zinc sulfide, the primary ore of zinc, and a mineral that collectors chase for reasons that have nothing to do with industry. Well-formed crystals show a resinous to nearly adamantine luster, and clean material has a dispersion several times higher than diamond, which is why cut sphalerite throws so much fire.

Color and form

Color runs from honey and amber through red-brown to nearly black, depending largely on iron content: the more iron, the darker the crystal. It forms tetrahedral and dodecahedral crystals, often twinned, and it turns up alongside galena, calcite, fluorite and pyrite in hydrothermal deposits. Material from Spain, Bulgaria, Peru and the American Midwest each has its own recognizable look, and collectors who know the localities can often place a specimen by habit and color before they read the label.

What we look for

Sphalerite is soft, about 3.5 to 4 on the Mohs scale, with perfect cleavage in six directions. That combination makes undamaged crystals genuinely uncommon, because a knock in the wrong place takes a face off. We buy directly from miners and established collectors and choose specimens by hand, favoring crystal sharpness, luster and matrix over sheer size. Many of the pieces here exist as a single example.

Choosing and keeping a piece

Study the photographs for chips along the cleavage planes and read the description for any damage we have noted. Backlit shots show color best, but judge the crystal on its faces.

• Display it out of direct sun, since strong light can dull some surfaces over time.
• Keep it away from harder minerals that will scratch it in storage.
• Dust with a soft brush rather than a cloth, and avoid ultrasonic cleaning.

In crystal tradition sphalerite is often associated with grounding and with balance, and many people simply keep a piece where they can watch the light move through it. Browse the current sphalerite selection below.