Sphalerite is a zinc sulfide mineral with the ideal formula ZnS and is the principal ore mineral of zinc. It occurs in several major classes of base-metal deposits, including volcanogenic massive sulfide and sediment-hosted systems, and commonly occurs with galena, chalcopyrite, and pyrite. Its composition can include substituted elements such as iron, cadmium, and other minor constituents that may influence concentrate quality and processing.
These elements are often found is this element in the following Deposit Types:
Deposit Type: Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide (VMS) - Sulfide deposits formed by seafloor hydrothermal systems and commonly enriched in copper, zinc, lead, gold, and silver.
Sphalerite is the principal zinc-bearing sulfide mineral in zinc-bearing VMS deposits.