Sphalerite (gemmy crystals)

Item Description

Sulfide mineral are typically metallic and opaque, but Sphalerite is one of the few sulfides that is found in gem quality crystals. Some of the best examples of this material have been found in the Madan Ore Field in Bulgaria for many years. You can find this material labeled sometimes as "Cleophane" which is an archaic term for gem quality yellow, green or colorless Sphalerite and was once a valid species, but is now defined as a variety of Sphalerite. This piece features modified groups of sharp, well-formed complex crystals of Sphalerite without matrix. The Sphalerites show a greenish-golden hue when backlit, with good internal translucency. It's incredibly difficult to photograph this material, and this one looks better in person, especially with the backlighting. This color is highly desirable for Sphalerite, and is not commonly seen for the species around the world, especially in fine crystallized examples.