Yellowish orange masses of Zincite associated with black Franklinite and
Calcite from Franklin, New Jersey.
A close-up view.
Massive Zincite
Synthetic Zincite.
CHEMISTRY ZnO Zinc oxide
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY Hexagonal
CRYSTAL GROWTH AND HABITS Zincite rarely forms crystals but those that form are usually pyramidal and hemimorphic. Normally Zincite occurs as foliated or granular masses.
COLOR AND OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES Zincite is yellowish orange to deep red but can also be colorless or yellow. It is translucent.
HARDNESS 4
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 5.6 - 5.7
LUSTER Sub adamantine to resinous
STREAK Yellow orange
BREAKABILITY Zincite has distinct prismatic cleavage and is brittle.
OCCURRENCE Zincite typically is a secondary mineral found in the oxidized zone of zinc ore bodies. It is a primary mineral of the metamorphosed zinc ore body of Franklin, New Jersey.
ASSOCIATED MINERALS Franklinite, willemite, calcite, smithsonite, sphalerite, hemimorphite
NAME Derived from its composition