NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Zincite

Zincite is the mineral form of zinc oxide (Zn O). In nature its crystal form is rare, with the exception of Franklin, New Jersey, an area also known for its fluorescent minerals. It has a hexagonal crystal structure and color that depends on impurities. The zincite found in Franklin, New Jersey is red-colored (mostly due to iron and manganese) and associated with willemite and franklinite. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 Ã— 768 pixel, file size: 239 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 Ã— 768 pixel, file size: 239 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) (All user names refer to en. ... A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure and specific physical properties. ... Zinc oxide is a chemical compound with formula ZnO. It is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in acids or alkalis. ... General Name, Symbol, Number zinc, Zn, 30 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 12, 4, d Appearance bluish pale gray Standard atomic weight 65. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Standard atomic weight 15. ... For other uses, see Crystal (disambiguation). ... Franklin is a borough located in Sussex County, New Jersey. ... Fluorescence induced by exposure to ultraviolet light in vials containing various sized cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots. ... For other uses, see Hexagon (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Iron (disambiguation). ... General Name, symbol, number manganese, Mn, 25 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 7, 4, d Appearance silvery metallic Standard atomic weight 54. ... Willemite is a zinc silicate (Zn2SiO4) and a minor ore of zinc. ... Spinel is one of a group of minerals which crystallize in the isometric system with an octahedral habit, and whose chemical compositions are analogous. ...

Synthetic Zincite Crystals

Zincite crystals can be grown artificially and synthetic zincite crystals are available as a by-product of zinc smelting. Synthetic crystals can be colorless or range in color from dark red, orange, yellow to light green. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Both natural and synthetic zincite crystals are significant for their early use as semiconductor crystal detectors in the early development of crystal radios before the advent of vacuum tubes. As an early radio detector it was used in a junction with another mineral, chalcopyrite, and the combination was known as the Perikon detector. A cats whisker is the tiny wire that connects to the detector in a crystal radio. ... An example of a modern set created by VE6AB The crystal radio receiver (also known as a crystal set) is a very simple kind of radio receiver. ... Chalcopyrite (sometimes called peacock pyrite) is a copper iron sulfide mineral that crystallizes in the tetragonal system. ... A cats whisker is the tiny wire that connects to the detector in a crystal radio. ...

Reference

Mineral galleries

Categories: Oxide minerals | Zinc minerals | Mineral stubs

Results from FactBites:

ZINCITE Chapter 22. Oxides and hydroxides (2043 words)
	Zincite is the least abundant of the three principal ore minerals (willemite, franklinite, and zincite), but is the richest zinc-ore mineral of all here and worldwide.
	Zincite is mobile under certain conditions, and it occurs as veins (Figures 12-7 and 12-8), coatings, blebs (Figures 12-14 and 12-17), and inclusions in other minerals.
	Zincite also occurs as finger-like masses (Figure 12-17), recrystallized masses (Figures 12-35, 12-36, and 12-37), and large, distorted, conical masses in calcite at both deposits (Figure 22-12), as well as in druses and varied vein assemblages which clearly postdate the common ore and in other habits.

Zincite (1725 words)
	Measurements of natural crystals of zincite are few and poor, and the generally accepted axial ratio for zinc oxide is based on artificial crystals.
	Zincite is commonly massive and granular, foliated, or compact.
	Zincite was the first of the remarkable minerals constituting these deposits to excite scientific interest, and its description and analysis by Dr. Bruce in 1810 (1) constitute one of the earliest mineralogical investigations made in this country.

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