Wurtzite

Wurtzite

By Tim Matthews, JD, FGA, GG, DGA,
CEO and President of JTV (retired)
Published: June 2014
Modified: November 2021
Wurtzite Polished

Wurtzite is named after French chemist Charles Adolphe Wurtz. It was first described in 1861 after it was discovered in the San José Mine, Oruro City, Cercado Province, Oruro Department, Bolivia. It can be dark reddish brown, yellow to dark brown, to brownish black with a resinous or submetallic luster.

General Information

Common Name
Wurtzite
Species
Wurtzite
Transparency
Translucent-Transparent
Dispersion
Strength: None
Refractive Index
2.356-2.378
Optic Character
Uniaxial
Optic Sign
Positive
Fluorescence
LWUV: Inert to Orange Red, Red or Yellow
Pleochroism
Unobservable
Hardness
3.5-4
Streak
Light Brown
Specific Gravity
4.000-4.090
Toughness
Poor
Luster
Vitreous, Resinous
Stability
Brittle
Fracture
Uneven, Brittle
Cleavage
Complete
Chemical Name
Zinc Iron Sulfide
Chemical Formula
(Zn,Fe)S
Crystal System
Hexagonal
Chemistry Classification
Sulfide

Wurtzite Colors

  • Black Wurtzite
    Black
  • Brown Wurtzite
    Brown
  • Orange Wurtzite
    Orange
  • Red Wurtzite
    Red
  • Yellow Wurtzite
    Yellow

Countries of Origin

Papua New Guinea; Kazakhstan; Portugal; Greece; Austria; Mongolia; Morocco; Unknown; Slovenia; Tonga; Argentina; Hungary; Japan; Ukraine; Zambia; Taiwan (Province of China); Bolivia (Plurinational State of); India; Canada; Belgium; Namibia; Finland; Italy; South Africa; Peru; Germany; Tanzania, United Republic Of; Afghanistan; Russian Federation; Fiji; Viet Nam; Czechia; United States of America; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Costa Rica; Netherlands; Sweden; China; Ireland; Poland; Slovakia; Bulgaria; France; Jordan; Kyrgyzstan; Romania; Switzerland; Spain; Mexico; Australia; Tajikistan

Care

Wurtzite has a low mohs hardness and easy cleavage so please take special care when handling stones or specimens.