2.3" Sphalerite "Flower" Crystals - Missouri

This beautiful specimen contains deep red sphalerite "flower" crystal clusters on matrix. It comes from the Washington County Aggregates Quarry in the Potosi Barite District of Missouri. Comes with an acrylic display stand for preferred presentation.

About Sphalerite

Sphalerite is the most important ore of zinc and a striking mineral prized for its brilliant luster and wide range of colors. Composed of zinc sulfide (ZnS), it commonly forms in cubic or tetrahedral crystals and is found in hydrothermal veins, sedimentary deposits, and metamorphic environments around the world.

Although often brown to black, sphalerite can also occur in shades of honey-yellow, red, orange, and even green. Lighter-colored varieties are sometimes transparent to translucent and can display exceptional dispersion—meaning they separate light into spectral colors more intensely than diamond—giving well-cut specimens a fiery, eye-catching sparkle. Darker specimens are typically opaque with a resinous to submetallic luster.

SOLD
DETAILS
SPECIES
Sphalerite
LOCATION
Washington County Aggregates Quarry, Potosi Barite District, Washington County, Missouri
SIZE
2.3 x 2"
CATEGORY
ITEM
#96373