Editing Sphalerite (section)

=== Physical properties ===
Sphalerite possesses perfect dodecahedral [[Cleavage (crystal)|cleavage]], having six cleavage planes.<ref name="Klein-2017a" /><ref name="Klein-2017b">{{Cite book|last1=Klein|first1=Cornelis|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/975051556|title=Earth materials : introduction to mineralogy and petrology|last2=Philpotts|first2=Anthony|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2017|isbn=978-1-107-15540-4|edition=2nd|location=Cambridge|oclc=975051556}}</ref> In pure form, it is a semiconductor, but transitions to a conductor as the iron content increases.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Deng |first1=Jiushuai |last2=Lai |first2=Hao |last3=Chen |first3=Miao |last4=Glen |first4=Matthew |last5=Wen |first5=Shuming |last6=Zhao |first6=Biao |last7=Liu |first7=Zilong |last8=Yang |first8=Hua |last9=Liu |first9=Mingshi |last10=Huang |first10=Lingyun |last11=Guan |first11=Shiliang |last12=Wang |first12=Ping |title=Effect of iron concentration on the crystallization and electronic structure of sphalerite/marmatite: A DFT study |journal=Minerals Engineering |date=June 2019 |volume=136 |pages=168–174 |doi=10.1016/j.mineng.2019.02.012|bibcode=2019MiEng.136..168D |s2cid=182111130 }}</ref> It has a hardness of 3.5 to 4 on the [[Mohs scale of mineral hardness]].<ref name=King/>

It can be distinguished from similar minerals by its perfect cleavage, its distinctive resinous luster, and the reddish-brown streak of the darker varieties.{{sfn|Klein|Hurlbut|1993|p=357}}