Category Sulfide mineral Dana classification 02.08.07.01 Fracture Uneven - irregular Space group P63mc Optical properties Uniaxial (+) | Strunz classification 2.CB.45 Cleavage [1120] and [0001] Formula (repeating unit) (Zn,Fe)S Crystal system Hexagonal | |
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Color Brownish black, Orange brown, Reddish brown, Black. Crystal class Dihexagonal pyramidal (6mm); H-M symbol: (6mm) Crystal habit Radial clusters and colloform crusts and masses. Also as tabular crystals Other characteristics Nonmagnetic, non-radioactive | ||
Wurtzite zinc iron sulfide unit cell
Wurtzite is a zinc iron sulfide mineral ((Zn,Fe)S) a less frequently encountered mineral form of sphalerite. The iron content is variable up to eight percent. It is trimorphous with matraite and sphalerite.
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It occurs in hydrothermal deposits associated with sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, barite and marcasite. It also occurs in low-temperature clay-ironstone concretions.
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. 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.
Wurtzite structure
The wurtzite group includes: Cadmoselite CdSe, Greenockite CdS, Mátraite ZnS and Rambergite MnS, in addition to wurtzite.
Its crystal structure is called the wurtzite crystal structure, to which it lends its name. This structure is a member of the hexagonal crystal system and consists of tetrahedrally coordinated zinc and sulfur atoms that are stacked in an ABABABABAB pattern.
The unit cell parameters of wurtzite are (-2H polytype):
