wurtzite

{{Short description|Zinc and iron mixed sulfide mineral: (Zn,Fe)S}}

{{About|the mineral|the crystal structure|Wurtzite (crystal structure)}}

{{Distinguish|text=Wüstite, a mineral form of mostly iron(II) oxide}}

{{Infobox mineral

| name = Wurtzite

| category = Sulfide mineral

| boxwidth =

| boxbgcolor =

| image = Wurtzite-245570.jpg

| caption =

| formula = {{chem2|(Zn,Fe)S}}

| IMAsymbol = Wur{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}

| molweight =

| strunz = 2.CB.45

| dana = 02.08.07.01

| system = Hexagonal

| class = Dihexagonal pyramidal (6mm)
H-M symbol: (6mm)

| symmetry = P6₃mc

| color = Brownish black, orange brown, reddish brown, black

| habit = Radial clusters and colloform crusts and masses. Also as tabular crystals

| twinning =

| cleavage = [11{{overline|2}}0] and [0001]

| fracture = Uneven – irregular

| mohs = 3.5–4

| luster = Resinous, brilliant submetallic on crystal faces

| refractive = n_ω = 2.356 n_ε = 2.378

| opticalprop = Uniaxial (+)

| birefringence = δ = 0.022

| pleochroism =

| streak = light brown

| gravity = 4.09 measured, 4.10 calculated

| melt =

| fusibility =

| diagnostic =

| solubility =

| diaphaneity = Translucent

| other = Nonmagnetic, non-radioactive

| references = [http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/wurtzite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy][http://www.mindat.org/min-4318.html Wurtzite at Mindat.org][http://webmineral.com/data/Wurtzite.shtml Wurtzite at Webmineral]

| SMILES = [ZnH2-2]1[S+2]47[ZnH-2]2[S+2][ZnH-2]3[S+2]8([ZnH2-2][SH+2]([ZnH2-2]4)[ZnH2-2]6)[ZnH-2]4[S+2][ZnH-2]5[S+2]6([ZnH2-2]6)[Zn-2]78[S+2]78[ZnH-2]([SH+2]69)[SH+2]5[ZnH2-2][SH+2]4[ZnH-2]7[SH+2]3[ZnH2-2][SH+2]2[ZnH-2]8[SH+2]1[ZnH2-2]9

| Jmol = [ZnH2-2]1[SH+2]([ZnH2-2]6)[ZnH2-2][SH+2]7[ZnH-2]2[S+2][Zn-2]3([S+2][ZnH-2]9[S+2]5)[S+2]18[Zn-2]45[S+2][ZnH-2]5[SH+2]6[Zn-2]78[S+2]78[ZnH2-2][SH+2]5[ZnH2-2][S+2]4([ZnH2-2][SH+2]9[ZnH2-2]4)[ZnH-2]7[S+2]34[ZnH2-2][SH+2]2[ZnH2-2]8

}}

Wurtzite is a zinc and iron sulfide mineral with the chemical formula {{chem2|(Zn,Fe)S}}, a less frequently encountered structural polymorph form of sphalerite. The iron content is variable up to eight percent.Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged, pp. 226-228. It is trimorphous with matraite and sphalerite.

It occurs in hydrothermal deposits associated with sphalerite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, barite and marcasite. It also occurs in low-temperature clay-ironstone concretions.

It was first described in 1861 for an occurrence in the San José Mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia, and named for French chemist Charles-Adolphe Wurtz. It has widespread distribution. In Europe it is reported from Příbram, Czech Republic; Hesse, Germany; and Liskeard, Cornwall, England. In the US it is reported from Litchfield County, Connecticut; Butte, Silver Bow County, Montana; at Frisco, Beaver County, Utah; and from the Joplin district, Jasper County, Missouri.