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FLUORITE SPHALERITE PYRITE QUARTZ

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FLUORITE SPHALERITE PYRITE QUARTZ

Fluorite Sphalerite Pyrite Quartz.  An interesting mineral specimen on a Quartz matrix with Sphalerite, Fluorite, Pyrite and a double terminated quartz crystal.  Shows defined zones of different metal crystal growths.

Location:
Hunan, China.

Dimensions:
11cm x 7.5cm x 3.5cm 290g.

Calcium Fluoride: CaF2.

Zinc Iron Sulfide: ZnS.

Iron Sulfide: FeS2.

Silicon dioxide: SiO2.

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FLUORITE SPHALERITE PYRITE QUARTZ

FLUORITE SPHALERITE PYRITE QUARTZ

Fluorite Sphalerite Pyrite Quartz.  An interesting mineral specimen on a Quartz matrix with Sphalerite, Fluorite, Pyrite and a double terminated quartz crystal.  Shows defined zones of different metal crystal growths.

Location:
Hunan, China.

Dimensions:
11cm x 7.5cm x 3.5cm 290g.

Calcium Fluoride: CaF2.

Named in 1797 by Carlo Antonio Galeani Napione from the Latin, fluere = “to flow” (for its use as a flux). The term fluorescence is derived from fluorite, which will often markedly exhibit this effect. The element fluorine also derives its name from fluorite, a major source for the element.  Fluorite is one of those delightful minerals that comes in a wide range of colours, including many colours all in one piece, or Rainbow Fluorite.  A staple for the mineral collection.

Class: Halides
Uses: As a flux (hence the name) in iron smelting, a rare gemstone, a source of fluorine, as special optical lenses and a popular mineral specimens.

Zinc Iron Sulfide: ZnS.

Sphalerite, also known as Blende or Zinc Blende, is the major ore of zinc.  When pure (with little or no iron) it forms clear crystals with colours ranging from pale yellow (known as Cleiophane) to orange and red shades (known as Ruby Blende), but as iron content increases it forms dark, opaque metallic crystals (known as Marmatite).

Class: Sulfides
Group: Sphalerite Group
Uses: major ore of zinc, rarely cut into gemstones, mineral specimens.

Iron Sulfide: FeS2.

Pyrite is the classic “Fool’s Gold”.  There are other shiny brassy yellow minerals, but pyrite is by far the most common and the most often mistaken for gold.  Whether it is the golden look or something else, pyrite is a favorite among rock collectors.  It can have a beautiful luster and interesting crystals.  It is so common in the earth’s crust that it is found in almost every possible environment, hence it has a vast number of forms and varieties.

Bravoite is the name given to a nickel-rich iron sulfide.  It is closely related to pyrite but contains up to 20% nickel.  Some mineral books treat it as a variety of pyrite.  Pyrite is a polymorph of marcasite, which means that it has the same chemistry, FeS2, as marcasite; but a different structure and therefore different symmetry and crystal shapes.  Pyrite is difficult to distinguish from marcasite when a lack of clear indicators exists.

STRUCTURE

Pyrite’s structure is analogous to galena’s structure with a formula of PbS.  Galena though has a higher symmetry.  The difference between the two structures is that the single sulfur of galena is replaced by a pair of sulfurs in pyrite. The sulfur pair are covalently bonded together in essentially an elemental bond.  This pair disrupts the four fold symmetry that a single atom of sulfur would have preserved and thus gives pyrite a lower symmetry than galena.  We have sold the Disc form called Pyrite Sun, Spheres formed of hundreds of squares, Cubes of near square, Octahedral crystal form and crystal cluster forms.

Although pyrite is common and contains a high percentage of iron, it has never been used as a significant source of iron.  Iron oxides such as hematite and magnetite, are the primary iron ores.  The metal is not as economical as these ores possibly due to their tendency to form larger concentrations of more easily mined material.  Pyrite would be a potential source of iron if these ores should become scarce.

Class: Sulfides
Group: Pyrite
Uses: A very minor ore of sulfur for sulfuric acid, used in jewelry under the trade name “marcasite” and as mineral specimens.

Silicon dioxide: SiO2.

Quartz is one of the most common minerals found in the Earth’s crust.  If pure, quartz forms colorless, transparent and very hard crystals with a glass-like luster.  A significant component of many igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, this natural form of silicon dioxide is found in an impressive range of varieties and colours.
Quartz in it’s polished form was the most advanced technology thousands of years ago, used by the Assyrians.  Quartz was used as a lens to focus light and could start a fire.  The Vikings would have used one of these to find the sun on a cloudy day.  It would have been used as a magnifying glass too.  Today it leads technology being the main component of transistors which make our computers work and solar panels.

Class: Silicates
Subclass: Tectosilicates
Group: Quartz
Uses: silica for glass, electrical components, optical lenses, abrasives, gemstones, ornamental stone, building stone, etc.

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