Mineral - Wurtzite
Wurtzite
Chemical Properties
Mineral Class
Sulfides and sulfosalts
Toxicity
none
Formula
(Zn,Fe)S
Unit Cell
a=3.82 c=6.26 Z=2
Physical Properties
Hardness
3.5 - 4
Streak
brown
Density
Heavy (3,5-6)
Cleavage
Perfect after {11 2 0)
Fracture
uneven
Tenacity
Brittle
Optical Properties
Color
blackbrownred
Birefringence
0.022
Luster
Adamantine
Transparency
translucent,
opaque
Pleochroism
Geomineralogical Properties
Crystal System
hexagonal
Point Group
dihexagonal-pyramidal - 6mm
Space Group
P6 3 mc (186)
Habit
blocky, acicular, pyramidal, tabular
Formation
Primarily under hydrothermal conditions, usually at temperatures above 400 °C, or from acidic, metal-rich solutions in volcanic-exhalative environments
Paragenesis
Twinning
Rarity
Rarely
Synonyms
Wurtzite
Composition
Elements
Mass
Zn
62.64
Fe
2.43
Cd
1.84
Pb
0.41
S
32.10
Czech Republic (Palache et al. 1952)
Groups and Members
Wurtzite-Group