Editing Sphalerite (section)

==Deposit types==
Sphalerite is amongst the most common sulfide minerals, and it is found worldwide and in a variety of deposit types.<ref name="Rennie-Law-2016"/> The reason for the wide distribution of sphalerite is that it appears in many types of deposits; it is found in [[skarn]]s,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ye|first1=Lin|last2=Cook|first2=Nigel J.|last3=Ciobanu|first3=Cristiana L.|last4=Yuping|first4=Liu|last5=Qian|first5=Zhang|last6=Tiegeng|first6=Liu|last7=Wei|first7=Gao|last8=Yulong|first8=Yang|last9=Danyushevskiy|first9=Leonid|date=2011|title=Trace and minor elements in sphalerite from base metal deposits in South China: A LA-ICPMS study|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169136811000217|journal=Ore Geology Reviews|language=en|volume=39|issue=4|pages=188–217|doi=10.1016/j.oregeorev.2011.03.001|bibcode=2011OGRv...39..188Y }}</ref> [[Hydrothermal mineral deposit|hydrothermal deposits]],<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Knorsch|first1=Manuel|last2=Nadoll|first2=Patrick|last3=Klemd|first3=Reiner|date=2020|title=Trace elements and textures of hydrothermal sphalerite and pyrite in Upper Permian (Zechstein) carbonates of the North German Basin|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0375674218306708|journal=Journal of Geochemical Exploration|language=en|volume=209|pages=106416|doi=10.1016/j.gexplo.2019.106416|bibcode=2020JCExp.20906416K |s2cid=210265207}}</ref> sedimentary beds,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Zhu|first1=Chuanwei|last2=Liao|first2=Shili|last3=Wang|first3=Wei|last4=Zhang|first4=Yuxu|last5=Yang|first5=Tao|last6=Fan|first6=Haifeng|last7=Wen|first7=Hanjie|date=2018|title=Variations in Zn and S isotope chemistry of sedimentary sphalerite, Wusihe Zn-Pb deposit, Sichuan Province, China|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169136817306224|journal=Ore Geology Reviews|language=en|volume=95|pages=639–648|doi=10.1016/j.oregeorev.2018.03.018|bibcode=2018OGRv...95..639Z }}</ref> [[Volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposit|volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits]] (VMS),<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Akbulut|first1=Mehmet|last2=Oyman|first2=Tolga|last3=Çiçek|first3=Mustafa|last4=Selby|first4=David|last5=Özgenç|first5=İsmet|last6=Tokçaer|first6=Murat|date=2016|title=Petrography, mineral chemistry, fluid inclusion microthermometry and Re–Os geochronology of the Küre volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit (Central Pontides, Northern Turkey)|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S016913681630004X|journal=Ore Geology Reviews|language=en|volume=76|pages=1–18|doi=10.1016/j.oregeorev.2016.01.002|bibcode=2016OGRv...76....1A }}</ref> [[Carbonate-hosted lead-zinc ore deposits|Mississippi-valley type deposits]] (MVT),<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Nakai|first1=Shun'ichi|last2=Halliday|first2=Alex N|last3=Kesler|first3=Stephen E|last4=Jones|first4=Henry D|last5=Kyle|first5=J.Richard|last6=Lane|first6=Thomas E|date=1993|title=Rb-Sr dating of sphalerites from Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) ore deposits|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/0016703793904408|journal=Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta|language=en|volume=57|issue=2|pages=417–427|doi=10.1016/0016-7037(93)90440-8|bibcode=1993GeCoA..57..417N|hdl=2027.42/31084|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Viets|first1=John G.|last2=Hopkins|first2=Roy T.|last3=Miller|first3=Bruce M.|date=1992|title=Variations in minor and trace metals in sphalerite from mississippi valley-type deposits of the Ozark region; genetic implications|url=http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/economicgeology/article/87/7/1897/21105/Variations-in-minor-and-trace-metals-in-sphalerite|journal=Economic Geology|language=en|volume=87|issue=7|pages=1897–1905|doi=10.2113/gsecongeo.87.7.1897|bibcode=1992EcGeo..87.1897V |issn=1554-0774}}</ref> [[granite]]<ref name="Cook-2003" /> and [[coal]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hatch|first1=J. R.|last2=Gluskoter|first2=H. J.|last3=Lindahl|first3=P. C.|date=1976|title=Sphalerite in coals from the Illinois Basin|url=http://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/economicgeology/article/71/3/613/18771/Sphalerite-in-coals-from-the-Illinois-Basin|journal=Economic Geology|language=en|volume=71|issue=3|pages=613–624|doi=10.2113/gsecongeo.71.3.613|bibcode=1976EcGeo..71..613H |issn=1554-0774}}</ref>

=== Sedimentary exhalitive ===
Approximately 50% of zinc (from sphalerite) and lead comes from [[Sedimentary exhalative deposits|Sedimentary exhalative]] (SEDEX) deposits, which are stratiform Pb-Zn sulfides that form at seafloor vents.<ref name="Kropschot-2011">{{Cite journal|last1=Kropschot|first1=S.J.|last2=Doebrich|first2=Jeff L.|date=2011|title=Zinc-The key to preventing corrosion|journal=Fact Sheet|page=13 |doi=10.3133/fs20113016|issn=2327-6932|doi-access=free|bibcode=2011usgs.rept...13K }}</ref> The metals precipitate from hydrothermal fluids and are hosted by shales, carbonates and organic-rich siltstones in [[back-arc basin|back-arc basins]] and failed continental rifts.<ref name="Arndt-2015">{{Cite book|last=Arndt|first=N. T.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/914168910|title=Metals and society : an introduction to economic geology|date=2015|others=Stephen E. Kesler, Clément Ganino|isbn=978-3-319-17232-3|edition=2nd|location=Cham|oclc=914168910}}</ref> The main ore minerals in SEDEX deposits are sphalerite, galena, pyrite, [[pyrrhotite]] and [[marcasite]], with minor sulfosalts such as [[tetrahedrite]]-[[freibergite]] and [[boulangerite]]; the zinc + lead grade typically ranges between 10 and 20%.<ref name="Arndt-2015"/> Important SEDEX mines are [[Red Dog mine|Red Dog]] in [[Alaska]], [[Sullivan Mine]] in [[British Columbia]], [[Mount Isa Mines|Mount Isa]] and [[Broken Hill ore deposit|Broken Hill]] in [[Australia]] and Mehdiabad in [[Iran]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Emsbo|first1=Poul|last2=Seal|first2=Robert R.|last3=Breit|first3=George N.|last4=Diehl|first4=Sharon F.|last5=Shah|first5=Anjana K.|date=2016|title=Sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) zinc-lead-silver deposit model|journal=Scientific Investigations Report|page=11 |doi=10.3133/sir20105070n|issn=2328-0328|doi-access=free|bibcode=2016usgs.rept...11E }}</ref>

=== Mississippi-Valley type ===
Similar to SEDEX, Mississippi-Valley type (MVT) deposits are also a Pb-Zn deposit which contains sphalerite.<ref>{{Citation|last=Misra|first=Kula C.|title=Mississippi Valley-Type (MVT) Zinc-Lead Deposits|date=2000|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3925-0_13|work=Understanding Mineral Deposits|pages=573–612|place=Dordrecht|publisher=Springer Netherlands|doi=10.1007/978-94-011-3925-0_13|isbn=978-94-010-5752-3|access-date=2021-03-26}}</ref> However, they only account for 15–20% of zinc and lead, are 25% smaller in tonnage than SEDEX deposits and have lower grades of 5–10% Pb + Zn.<ref name="Arndt-2015"/> MVT deposits form from the replacement of carbonate host rocks such as dolostone and limestone by ore minerals; they are located in platforms and foreland thrust belts.<ref name="Arndt-2015"/> Furthermore, they are stratabound, typically Phanerozoic in age and epigenetic (form after the lithification of the carbonate host rocks).<ref name="Haldar-2020">{{Citation|last=Haldar|first=S.K.|title=Mineral deposits: host rocks and genetic model|date=2020|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-820585-3.00009-0|work=Introduction to Mineralogy and Petrology|pages=313–348|publisher=Elsevier|doi=10.1016/b978-0-12-820585-3.00009-0|isbn=978-0-12-820585-3|s2cid=226572449|access-date=2021-03-26}}</ref> The ore minerals are the same as SEDEX deposits: sphalerite, galena, pyrite, pyrrhotite and marcasite, with minor sulfosalts.<ref name="Haldar-2020" /> Mines that contain MVT deposits include Polaris in the Canadian arctic, Mississippi River in the [[United States]], Pine Point in Northwest Territories, and Admiral Bay in Australia.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sangster|first=D F|date=1995|title=Mississippi valley-type lead-zinc|doi=10.4095/207988|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Volcanogenic massive sulfide ===
Volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits can be Cu-Zn- or Zn-Pb-Cu-rich, and accounts for 25% of Zn in reserves.<ref name="Arndt-2015"/> There are various types of VMS deposits with a range of regional contexts and host rock compositions; a common characteristic is that they are all hosted by submarine volcanic rocks.<ref name="Kropschot-2011"/> They form from metals such as copper and zinc being transferred by hydrothermal fluids (modified seawater) which leach them from volcanic rocks in the oceanic crust; the metal-saturated fluid rises through fractures and faults to the surface, where it cools and deposits the metals as a VMS deposit.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Roland.|first=Shanks, Wayne C. Thurston|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/809680409|title=Volcanogenic massive sulfide occurrence model|date=2012|publisher=U.S. Dept. of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey|oclc=809680409}}</ref> The most abundant ore minerals are pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and pyrrhotite.<ref name="Arndt-2015" /> Mines that contain VMS deposits include [[Kidd Mine|Kidd Creek]] in Ontario, Urals in [[Russia]], Troodos in [[Cyprus]], and Besshi in [[Japan]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=du Bray|first=Edward A.|date=1995|title=Preliminary compilation of descriptive geoenvironmental mineral deposit models|journal=Open-File Report|page=61 |doi=10.3133/ofr95831|issn=2331-1258|doi-access=free|bibcode=1995usgs.rept...61D }}</ref>

=== Localities ===
The top producers of sphalerite include the United States, Russia, [[Mexico]], [[Germany]], Australia, [[Canada]], [[China]], [[Ireland]], [[Peru]], [[Kazakhstan]] and [[England]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Muntyan|first=Barbara L.|date=1999|title=Colorado Sphalerite|url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00357529909602545|journal=Rocks & Minerals|language=en|volume=74|issue=4|pages=220–235|doi=10.1080/00357529909602545|bibcode=1999RoMin..74..220M |issn=0035-7529}}</ref><ref name="Routledge-2003">{{Cite book|chapter=Zinc|date=2003-09-02|chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781135356118/chapters/10.4324/9780203403556-47|title=Agricultural and Mineral Commodities Year Book|pages=358–366|edition=0|publisher=Routledge|language=en|doi=10.4324/9780203403556-47|isbn=978-0-203-40355-6|access-date=2021-02-25}}</ref>

Sources of high quality crystals include:
{|class="wikitable"
!Place!!Country
|-
|[[Freiberg, Saxony|Freiberg]], [[Saxony]], <br>[[Neudorf, Saxony-Anhalt|Neudorf]], [[Harz Mountains]]||Germany
|-
|[[Lengenbach Quarry]], [[Binntal]], [[Valais]]|| [[Switzerland]]
|-
| [[Horní Slavkov]] and [[Příbram]]||[[Czech Republic]]
|-
|[[Rodna]]|| [[Romania]]
|-
|[[Madan, Smolyan Province]], [[Rhodope Mountains]]|| [[Bulgaria]]
|-
| Aliva mine, [[Picos de Europa]] Mountains, [[Cantabria]] [Santander] Province|| [[Spain]]
|-
| [[Alston Moor]], [[Cumbria]]|| England
|-
|Dalnegorsk, [[Primorskiy Kray]]|| Russia
|-
|[[Watson Lake, Yukon|Watson Lake]], [[Yukon Territory]]|| Canada
|-
|[[Flin Flon]], [[Manitoba]]||Canada
|-
|[[Tri-State district]] including deposits near<br>[[Baxter Springs]], [[Cherokee County, Kansas]];<br>[[Joplin, Missouri|Joplin]], [[Jasper County, Missouri]]<br>and [[Picher, Oklahoma|Picher]], [[Ottawa County, Oklahoma]]||US
|-
|Elmwood mine, near [[Carthage, Tennessee|Carthage]], [[Smith County, Tennessee]]||US
|-
|Eagle mine, Gilman district, [[Eagle County, Colorado]]||US
|-
|[[Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua]]||Mexico
|-
|[[Naica]], [[Chihuahua (state)|Chihuahua]]||Mexico
|-
|[[Cananea]], [[Sonora]]||Mexico
|-
|Huaron||Peru
|-
|Casapalca||Peru
|-
|[[Huancavelica]]||Peru
|-
|[[Zinkgruvan]]|| [[Sweden]]
|}