Beta zinc sulfide

Colorless when pure; isometric; ZnS; mol wt, 97.43; sp gr, 4.102 at 25 degrees C, and ranges from 3.90 to 4.11; Mohs hardness, 3.5 to 4.0; luster, resinous to adamantine; transformation temperature to alpha zinc sulfide, 1,020+ or -5 degrees C; sublimes at 1,180 degrees C or 1,185 degrees C; melting point, 1,850 degrees C (at 150 atm or 15.2 MPa); insoluble in water; and very soluble in acids. Occurs as the mineral sphalerite, which is nearly colorless, white, yellow, red, green, brown, and black; has perfect dodecahedral cleavage; and is soluble in hydrochloric acid. Sphalerite is the principal ore of zinc, a source of cadmium, and a source of sulfur for manufacturing sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, and other sulfur compounds. Also called sphalerite; zinc blende; zincblende; blende; black jack.

See Also: Sphalerite, zinc sulfide

Compare with: alpha zinc sulfide

Ref: CCD, 2, Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 2, Dana, 2