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Sphalerite is zinc sulfide with some iron substitution, and is usually found in the
Lockport area as clusters of crystals which are orange yellow to dark brown.
Pictured here is a single crystal which is relatively large compared to those
usually found in the area.
The background dolomite crystals are relatively
common in Lockport dolomite rock.
This is another unusually large specimen of sphalerite for the Lockport area
Sphalerite is also known as "blende" and sometimes called "black jack." Although the color of the minerals collected in the Lockport area has been mainly dark brown, the color on this mineral may range to black, yellow...even red, green, gray, and white. It can also be colorless.
Sphalerite is ranked at 3-1/2 to 4 on the "hardness scale.
It can be identified in field tests by the application of some dilute hydrochloric acid which will produce the odor of "rotten eggs" or hydrogen sulfide gas.
Sphalerite will commonly occur with other minerals such as dolomite, calcite, galena, pyrite, fluorite, barite, and quartz.
Sphalerite is the main ore for zinc. There is not enough of it in this area for any mining consideration.
Fluorite is quite a rare find in the Lockport area. This specimen actually came
from Dundas, Ontario from the strata of Lockport dolomite that extends into Canada.
It is unusual to find sphalerite actually embedded in fluorite crystals.
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