Sphalerite << SFAL uh ryt or SFAY luh ryt >> is the most important zinc ore. It consists of zinc and sulfur. Sphalerite occurs in many colors, including black, red, yellow, white, and various shades of brown. The mineral has a peculiar luster, which may cause it to resemble hardened tree sap. Some varieties of sphalerite are triboluminescent—that is, they give off flashes of orange light when a sharp metal object is run across them. A rotten egg odor results from scratching the mineral. Major deposits of sphalerite occur in Mexico, eastern Europe, Spain, England, and the United States. Sphalerite is sometimes called zinc blende. See also Zinc.
