Sphalerite

Formula: ZnS

Reflected/transmitted colour: yellow to brown or colourless, polished section gray in air, in oil very dark gray, sometimes with a brownish tint, internal reflections always visible, especially in oil and in badly polished sections, for Fe-rich species reddish or reddish brown, Fe-poor more yellowish brown or yellowish white

Pleochroism: -

Optical isotropy/anisotropy: isotropic, polished section usually isotropic, but if anisotropic then light gray to dark gray, mostly disturbed by the internal reflections, may be due to tectonic deformation or to chemical admixtures, a high iron content causes distinct anisotropy

Optical sign:

Refractive indices: n = 2.37

Birefringence δ:

2V angle:

Dispersion:

Optical orientation:

Optical axial plane:

 

Back to Alphabetical list Colour photos Physical, chemical and crystallographic description SEM images TEM images vibrational spectra description IR spectra Raman spectra N-IR spectra F-IR spectra IES spectra