Wurtzite

Formula: ZnS

Origin of name: for C. Wurtz, French chemist

 

Crystal system: hexagonal

Crystal class: 6mm

Twinning:

Unit cell: a = 3.820 Å, c = 6.260 Å

 

Colour: brownish black to orange-brown

Diaphaneity: 

Luster: resinous

Habit: crystals hemimorphic pyramidal or short prismatic to tabular, often striated horizontally, crusts, banded, fibrous

Hardness: 3.5 to 4

Specific gravity: 3.98 to 4.08

Cleavage: 2; {11-20} distinct, {0001} imperfect

Tenacity: brittle

Streak: brown

 

Synonyms/varieties:

 

Comments: data are for wurtzite-2H, there are also -4H, -6H, -8H, -15R, -18R and -21R polytypes, trimorphous with matraite and sphalerite, fluoresces orange under LW ultraviolet light

 

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