Sphalerite

Sphalerite is a zinc sulfide mineral — the chief ore of zinc — and one that surprises anyone expecting ore to look dull: gem-quality sphalerite shows fire (dispersion) even greater than diamond's. Colours run from honey and amber through red-brown to near-black, with a resinous, almost metallic lustre. Because sphalerite forms naturally in such varied tones and crystal habits, every specimen we list is one-of-a-kind. Buy sphalerite online in Australia through GemCentral, and see the sphalerite profile in our Discover section for a closer look at this underrated collector's mineral.