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Wurtzite
| Wurtzite | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General | |
| Category | Sulfide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | (Zn,Fe)S |
| IMA symbol | Wur[1] |
| Strunz classification | 2.CB.45 |
| Dana classification | 02.08.07.01 |
| Crystal system | Hexagonal |
| Crystal class | Dihexagonal pyramidal (6mm) H-M symbol: (6mm) |
| Space group | P63mc |
| Structure | |
| Jmol (3D) | Interactive image |
| SMILES [ZnH2-2]1[S+2]47[ZnH-2]2[S+2][ZnH-2]3[S+2]8([ZnH2-2][SH+2]([ZnH2-2]4)[ZnH2-2]6)[ZnH-2]4[S+2][ZnH-2]5[S+2]6([ZnH2-2]6)[Zn-2]78[S+2]78[ZnH-2]([SH+2]69)[SH+2]5[ZnH2-2][SH+2]4[ZnH-2]7[SH+2]3[ZnH2-2][SH+2]2[ZnH-2]8[SH+2]1[ZnH2-2]9 (SMILES input only shows in Preview. SMILES is used to create the Jmol 3D image.) | |
| Identification | |
| Color | Brownish black, orange brown, reddish brown, black |
| Crystal habit | Radial clusters and colloform crusts and masses. Also as tabular crystals |
| Cleavage | [1120] and [0001] |
| Fracture | Uneven – irregular |
| Mohs scale hardness | 3.5–4 |
| Luster | Resinous, brilliant submetallic on crystal faces |
| Streak | light brown |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent |
| Specific gravity | 4.09 measured, 4.10 calculated |
| Optical properties | Uniaxial (+) |
| Refractive index | nω = 2.356 nε = 2.378 |
| Birefringence | δ = 0.022 |
| Other characteristics | Nonmagnetic, non-radioactive |
| References | [2][3][4] |
Wurtzite is a zinc and iron sulfide mineral with the chemical formula (Zn,Fe)S, a less frequently encountered structural polymorph form of sphalerite. The iron content is variable up to eight percent.[5] It is trimorphous with matraite and sphalerite.[2]
It occurs in hydrothermal deposits associated with sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, barite and marcasite. It also occurs in low-temperature clay-ironstone concretions.[2]
It was first described in 1861 for an occurrence in the San José Mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia, and named for French chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz.[3] It has widespread distribution. In Europe it is reported from Příbram, Czech Republic; Hesse, Germany; and Liskeard, Cornwall, England. In the US it is reported from Litchfield County, Connecticut; Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana; at Frisco, Beaver County, Utah; and from the Joplin district, Jasper County, Missouri.[2]
- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ a b c d Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ a b Wurtzite at Mindat.org
- ^ Wurtzite at Webmineral
- ^ Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged, pp. 226-228.
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