Esfalerita
Esfalerita is a mineral with formula (Zn,Fe)S, in the Sulfuros group. This specimen comes from Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee, Estados Unidos and joined the Terrium collection in 2024.
Description
Large spheroidal aggregate of dark, highly lustrous, well-faceted sphalerite crystals rising from a compact granular beige barite matrix.
About Esfalerita
Sphalerite is the principal ore mineral of zinc and commonly occurs with barite in hydrothermal deposits.
About the locality
Elmwood is a classic, world-class mine for sphalerite, calcite and barite, in both shared and separate parageneses. The best specimens came from its classic period, when mining allowed pieces to reach the market through the miners themselves. In 2010 Nyrstar reopened it after more than thirty years closed due to the low profitability of zinc, but prohibited specimen recovery and threatened immediate dismissal for anyone who did so. It closed permanently on 31 December 2023. Elmwood produced much high-quality material, but no more will emerge.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0362
- Composition
- (Zn,Fe)S
- Name
- Esfalerita
- Group
- Sulfuros
- Category
- Cupidium
- Associations
- calcita, dolomita
- Mine
- Elmwood Mine
- District / Municipality
- Carthage
- Province
- Smith County
- Region
- Tennessee
- Country
- Estados Unidos
- Acquired
- 2024
- Etymology
- From the Greek "sphaleros" (σφαλερός), meaning 'deceptive' or 'treacherous'. It was named for its resemblance to galena, the principal lead ore, although lead could not be extracted from sphalerite, to the frustration of ancient miners.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Acantita (Paramórfica tras Argentita) — Marruecos
- Analcima — Estados Unidos
- Auricalcita — Estados Unidos
- Boltwoodita — Estados Unidos
- Calcita (Ahumada) — Estados Unidos
- Calcita — Estados Unidos
- Calcita — Estados Unidos
- Calcopirita (Irisada) — Francia