Wurtzite Mineral Data

Wurtzite Mineral Data +

General Wurtzite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Zn,Fe)S

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 96.50 gm

Zinc 60.98 % Zn

Iron 5.79 % Fe

Sulfur 33.23 % S

______

100.00 %

Empirical Formula:

Zn_0.9Fe²⁺_0.1S

Environment:

Of hydrothermal origin in veins with other sulfides.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1861

Locality:

Príbram, Stredocesky kraj, Czech Republic Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named after the French chemist, Charles A. Wurtze (1817-1884).

Synonym:

Radial Blende

Wurtzite Image

Images:

Wurtzite Barite

Comments: Compact, dark, metallic crystals of wurtzite intermixed with galena crystals and white barite blades.
Location: Huanzala, Huanuco Dept., Peru. Scale: 5 x 4 x 2.5 cm.
© Isaias Casanova / IC Minerals

Wurtzite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.63874

Cell Dimensions:

a = 3.82, c = 6.26, Z = 2; V = 79.11 Den(Calc)= 4.05

Crystal System:

Hexagonal - Dihexagonal PyramidalH-M Symbol (6mm) Space Group: P 6₃mc

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 3.31(1), 3.13(0.86), 2.93(0.84),

Physical Properties of Wurtzite

Cleavage:

[1010] Good, [0001] Good

Color:

Brownish black, Orange brown, Reddish brown, Black.

Density:

3.98 - 4.08, Average = 4.03

Diaphaniety:

Translucent

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Colloform - Forming from a gel or colloidal mass.

Habit:

Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite)

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

3.5-4 - Copper Penny-Fluorite

Luminescence:

None.

Luster:

Adamantine - Resinous

Magnetism:

Nonmagnetic

Streak:

light brown

Optical Properties of Wurtzite

Dichroism (e):

none.

Dichroism (w):

none.

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (+), w=2.356, e=2.378, bire=0.0220.

RL Color:

Deep reddish brown to dark brown to brown-black; yellow to dark brown internal reflections.

Reflectivity

**Standardized Intensity (100%) Reflection Spectra of Wurtzite in Air**
λ	R	∑ R(λ)
400 nm	19.20
420 nm	18.70
440 nm	18.20
460 nm	17.80
480 nm	17.40
500 nm	17.10
520 nm	16.90
540 nm	16.60
560 nm	16.40
580 nm	16.30
600 nm	16.20
620 nm	16.10
640 nm	16.10
660 nm	16.10
680 nm	16.00
700 nm	15.80

**Calculated Relative Intensity Colors of Wurtzite in Air**
Relative Intensity	0%	60%	100%	120%	180%	240%	300%	360%	420%	480%	540%
R

Calculated Properties of Wurtzite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.83 gm/cc
note: r_Wurtzite=4.05 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.02872
Boson Index = 0.97128

Photoelectric:

PE_Wurtzite= 34.43 barns/electron
U=PE_Wurtzite x r_electron= 131.76 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 0 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Wurtzite is Not Radioactive

Wurtzite Classification

Dana Class:

2.8.7.1 (2)Sulfides - Including Selenides and Tellurides

(2.8)where Am Bn Xp, with (m+n):p=1:1

(2.8.7)Wurtzite Group (Hexagonal: P63mc)

2.8.7.1 Wurtzite (Zn,Fe)S P 6₃mc 6mm

2.8.7.2 Greenockite CdS P 6₃mc 6mm

2.8.7.3 Cadmoselite CdSe P 6₃mc 6mm

2.8.7.4 Rambergite! MnS P 6₃mc 6mm

Strunz Class:

II/C.13-10 II - Sulfides and sulphosalts

II/C - Sulfides with metal: sulfur, selenium and tellurium = 1:1

II/C.13 - Wurtzite series

II/C.13-10 Wurtzite (Zn,Fe)S P 6₃mc 6mm

II/C.13-20 Matraite ZnS R 3m 3m

II/C.13-30 Greenockite CdS P 6₃mc 6mm

II/C.13-40 Cadmoselite CdSe P 6₃mc 6mm

II/C.13-50 Rambergite! MnS P 6₃mc 6mm

Other Wurtzite Information

References:

NAME( Duda&Rejl90) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,1st ed.,1974) OPTIC PROP.(AntBidBlaNic1)

Search for Wurtzite using:

[ALTAVISTA] [AOL] [About.com] [All-The-Web] [HotBot] [Ixquick] [LookSmart] [MAMMA] [MSN.COM] [Netscape] [Teoma] [Wikipedia] [YAHOO]

Visit our Advertisers for Wurtzite :
AA Mineral Specimens
A-Rocks Auction
Adams Minerals
B and L Minerals
Dakota Matrix
Dan Weinrich Fine Minerals
Dan Weinrich Auctions
e-Rocks Auctions
Excalibur Minerals
Exceptional Minerals
Fabre Minerals
Greenside Minerals
John Betts Fine Minerals
Masons Minerals
Mineral News
Mineral of the Month Club
MineralsWeb Fine Minerals
Minernet.it
Rockshop.cz Kalat Fine Minerals
T G Fine Minerals
Wrights Rock Shop

Translate Wurtzite Mineral Data :

Ask about Wurtzite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Wurtzite Specimen Label here :

Wurtzite

(Zn,Fe)S
Dana No: 2.8.7.1 Strunz No: II/C.13-10
Locality:

Notes: