Sphalerite is zinc sulfide, the main ore of zinc, usually with iron and a trace of cadmium. It is soft and brittle, and its dust should not be breathed. Clear cut stones are collector gems. We do not carry it.
Sulfide
Sphalerite
Esfalerita
- Palette
- Brown Black Yellow Orange Red Green
- Mined in
- United States, Russia, Mexico, Germany, Australia, Canada, China, Spain, Peru
- Hardness
- Mohs 3.5–4.0 ?
- See-through
- translucent
- Known since
- 1847
- Named for
- Greek sphaleros, deceiving, as it is easy to misidentify
- Also sold as
- zinc blende, ruby blende (orange-red gem variety), marmatite (iron-rich black variety)
- Intention
- Protection Strength
- Looking for
- Grounding Focus and clarity
- Water
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft cloth
- Dye or finish
- No bead-trade disclosure turned up. Clear faceted sphalerite is a collector's gem, and it is rarely sold as beads.
Not in our pieces now
95%
About 95 percent of the world's primary zinc comes from sphalerite.
1847
Sphalerite was described in 1847 by Ernst Friedrich Glocker and named from a Greek word meaning deceiving, because it is so easy to misidentify.
ÁLIVA
Gem-quality sphalerite comes mainly from the Áliva mine in Spain's Picos de Europa, though its softness and perfect cleavage make it hard to wear.
What it is
Sphalerite is zinc sulfide, with some iron and often a trace of cadmium. It runs from sticky-looking black and brown to honey yellow, orange and red, with a bright, almost diamond-like shine. It is the main ore of zinc, and clear cut gems are collector items.
What gives it its color
Iron sets the color: pure sphalerite is nearly colorless, and the more iron it holds, the darker it gets, from yellow and brown to black.
Where it comes from
Gem-quality sphalerite has come mainly from the Áliva mine in the Picos de Europa, Spain; fine crystals also come from Mexico (Chihuahua), Peru, Russia and the United States.
What's said about it
In crystal lore, sphalerite is a grounding stone that people keep for sharper discernment. It's linked to the root and sacral chakras, the Sun, and the signs Leo and Gemini.
It is handled gently and kept whole, as a specimen on a shelf or desk.
How people wear or keep it: On a desk, on a shelf, or in a lidded box.
In crystal practice
In the crystal tradition, sphalerite is paired with the root and sacral chakras, so practitioners rest it there during meditation or lie down with it in place for a few quiet minutes. Day to day, the same tradition suggests keeping it close: on a desk, on a shelf, in a lidded box. People reach for it when they want grounding, focus and clarity, and many set an intention when they put it on. Most practitioners cleanse a new stone first (running water only if the stone can take it, otherwise smoke or moonlight) and set it aside now and then to rest.
These are beliefs people have held and still hold about the stone, reported as such. Nothing here is a promise or a medical claim. We sell stones as jewelry, not for these effects.
Associations
The chakra and star sign this stone is usually matched with. These are popular traditions, not facts about the stone.
ChakraRoot, Sacral
ZodiacGemini, Leo
ElementEarth
Also calledzinc blende, ruby blende (orange-red gem variety), marmatite (iron-rich black variety)
Care
- It is soft and brittle with perfect cleavage, so it chips and splits from knocks; handle it gently and store it apart from harder stones.
- It is zinc sulfide with traces of cadmium: do not cut, sand or grind it, and do not breathe its dust.
- Wash your hands after handling raw specimens, and keep it away from mouths, children and pets.
- Keep it dry; wipe with a soft dry cloth.
How to tell what you have
- Sphalerite is zinc sulfide with some iron and sometimes a trace of cadmium. It has a bright, almost diamond-like shine and runs from black and brown to honey yellow, orange, and red.
- Handling: wash your hands after handling raw pieces, keep it away from your mouth, and do not sand or grind it, since the dust carries zinc and trace cadmium.
- It is soft (3-1/2 to 4) with perfect cleavage, so it chips easily; a reddish-brown streak and perfect cleavage tell it from look-alikes.
What sets the price
Sphalerite is rarely made into beads; among the pieces that exist, clear, pale, well-cut stones that flash rainbow fire are the scarce ones, and dark iron-rich material is opaque and black.
Questions people ask at our table
What is sphalerite?
It is zinc sulfide, the world's main zinc ore, usually with some iron and a trace of cadmium. Colors range from black and brown to yellow, orange and red.
Is sphalerite used in jewelry?
Rarely. It is soft, brittle and splits along six planes, so cut stones are collector items, not everyday wear.
Is it safe to handle?
A whole specimen is fine with normal care and clean hands. Do not breathe its dust, swallow it, or cut or grind it, since it contains zinc sulfide and often cadmium.
What is ruby blende?
It is the orange-to-red gem variety of sphalerite, the one cutters like best for its bright shine. It is a different mineral from ruby, and much softer.
Do you carry sphalerite?
No, we do not carry it. Golden tiger eye and bronzite are the warm brown and gold stones in our pieces.
Not in our pieces right now
Stones we do carry that are close to it are listed under related stones.
Stay in the loop
Sign up to hear about new product drops, upcoming events, and the latest from Peritik. No spam, just the good stuff.