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Zincite is a rare mineral that is insignificant from all but one region in the world. Its bright orange color is very distinctive, as are its mineral association and habits. Pure synthetic Zincite is colorless; its natural orange to red color is caused by impurities of manganese oxide. Zincite often forms together and is admixed with Franklinite. A typical association is spotted Zincite and Franklinite on a white Calcite matrix, sometimes joined with Willemite. Although Zincite does not fluoresce, its Willemite and Calcite associations are highly fluorescent. Synthetic Zincite has been produced from industrial operations and laboratory production, and this material is very aesthetic and widely available on the mineral market. Much of this material is brightly colored and comes from Poland. |
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Chemical Formula |
ZnO |
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Composition |
Zinc oxide, almost always with small amounts of manganese and iron
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| Variable Formula |
(Zn,Mn,Fe)O |
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Color |
Deep orange-red, bright orange, yellowish-orange, dark brownish-red |
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Streak |
Orange yellow |
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Hardness |
4 |
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Crystal System |
Hexagonal |
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Crystal Forms
and Aggregates |
Crystals of Zincite are rare. When they do occur, they are in small pyramidal hexagonal crystals with a pointed termination on one end and flattened base on the other end. Pyramidal faces tend to be horizontally striated. Crystals are usually associated with massive or grainy Zincite. Most crystals are crudely formed; well-formed crystals are very uncommon. Most often massive, encrusting, and grainy.
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Transparency |
Translucent. Rarely transparent. |
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Specific Gravity |
5.4 - 5.7 |
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Luster |
Adamantine to resinous |
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Cleavage |
1,1; Also exhibits basal parting. |
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Fracture |
Conchoidal to uneven |
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Tenacity |
Brittle |
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Other ID Marks |
Lacks fluorescence
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In Group |
Oxides; Simple Oxides |
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Striking Features |
Color, mineral association, and locality |
| Environment |
In zinc-rich zones of metamorphosed marble.
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| Rock Type |
Metamorphic |
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Popularity (1-4)
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3 |
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Prevalence (1-3)
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3 |
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Demand (1-3) |
2 |
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Zincite was an important ore of zinc among the zinc ore bodies in the Franklin and Sterling Hill mines when those mines were in operation. Today zincite is a collector's mineral.
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The only significant producers of naturally occurring Zincite are the
world-famous zinc mines at Franklin and nearby Ogdensburg (Sterling
Hill), Sussex Co., New Jersey. Zincite has a few worldwide localities where it occurs naturally in microscopic grains. It has also been synthetically produced from industrial smelter operations and slag deposits in several parts of the world. Poland is especially noted for producing synthetic specimens that have become widely available on the collectors market.
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The mineral association and locality are sufficient to distinguish Zincite from any other similarly colored minerals.
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Have a question about Zincite? Visit our Q&A Community and ask the experts!
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