| P number: | P521550 |
|---|---|
| Caption: | Mineral specimen of crystals of zinc blende (sphalerite). Minto Pit, Lochgelly, Fifeshire. |
| Description: | The image shows three crystals of sphalerite (formerly called zinc blende). They have a dull silvery-grey metallic appearance. British Geological Survey Petrology Mineral Collection sample number 489. Sphalerite occurs in several forms, from cube-like crystals to coarse or fine granular, massive or compact grains. More complex shapes, termed tetrahedral or dodecahedral also occur. Sphalerite is found in many areas of the world. The best known deposits in the British Isles are probably at Alston Moor in England. Zinc blende or sphalerite is a zinc iron sulphide mineral belonging to the cubic crystal system. It can be found with a yellow or reddish-brown colour if pure or blackish if iron is present. It is found mainly in pegmatitic-pneumatolitic veins associated with galena and can also be found in sedimentary deposits in low and high temperature skarns or replacement deposits. It is the main ore for zinc and can produce cadmium and gallium as by-products. |
| Date taken: | 01/01/2003 |
| Photographer: | Unknown |
| Copyright statement: | NERC |
| Orientation: | Landscape |
| Size: | 150.18 KB; 1000 x 787 pixels; 85 x 67 mm (print at 300 DPI); 265 x 208 mm (screen at 96 DPI); |
| Average Rating: | Not yet rated |
| Categories: | Best of BGS Images/ Rocks and minerals |
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