Alternative Names: Zinc Blende, Ruby Blende
Origin: Worldwide
Mineral Species: Sphalerite
Mineral Group: Sulphides
Chemical Formula: ZnS
Hardness: 3.5-4
Crystal System: Isometric
Colour: Yellow, orange, light to dark brown, red-brown to black.
Typical Appearance: Usually massive crystalline or as individual euhedral crystals in a wide variety of forms and associations.
Birthstone: Gemini
Chakra Alignment: Navel (Sacral) and Solar Plexus; Throat and Third Eye
Element: None
Origin of Name & Mythology: From the Greek "sphaleros", treacherous, in allusion to the ease with which dark varieties were mistaken for galena, but yielded no lead.
Sphalerite fills the body with golden light, and imbues a feeling of 'lightness' within. It is warming, stimulating and uplifting, and strengthens the immune system. It encourages psychic and spiritual development and can be very helpful in meditation and visualisation work. Because its name comes from Greek, meaning 'deceitful', due to the fact that it is used as an ore, some believe it helps us to recognise deceit and treachery. The above information refers to sphalerite in the form of a translucent brown crystal. The metallic version of sphalerite has a very similar and quite powerful energy, with a stronger connection to the Root (Base) Chakra, and less to the Earth.
