Cleiophane (variety of Sphalerite)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Cleiophane was named previous to 1851 by Thomas Nuttall, but first used in print by Thomas H. Henry in 1851. The derivation of the name from the Greek words for fame and to appear is uncertain. Possibly because it "appeared" or was well-known at the type locality, Franklin, New Jersey, USA.

Discovered in 1851; IMA status: Not Valid (variety name)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

ZnS

Zinc Sulfide

More Information

Cleiophane is a variety of Sphalerite.
For more information please see the Sphalerite information page.
 

Synonyms:

Cleophane, Cramerite

Type Locality:

Franklin, Franklin Mining District, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA

Year Discovered:

1851

Common Associations:

Baryte, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Franklinite, Galena, Magnetite, Quartz, Sérandite, Serpentine Group minerals, Troostite, Ussingite, Villeaumite, Willemite

View mineral photos:

Cleiophane Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org

Cleiophane is a light-colored, usually yellowish, greenish, or very rarely colorless, variety of Sphalerite with low iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) content. Lighter colored examples of Cleiophane may be an almost pure Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) variety with little or no iron or manganese content. The one known exception to Cleiophane being light-colored and yellowish or greenish is an occurance at the Mangazeiskoe Sn-Ag deposit, Verkhoyansk Silver Province, Sakha Republic, Eastern-Siberian Region, Russia where masses of tiny crystals are dark red. This material has been tested to be completely iron free and having a manganese content of only about 0.03%. Cleiophane makes for very beautiful gems as its usually light colors allows its brilliance to show very well. Cleiophane has a very high refractive index of about 2.40, which is almost as high as Diamond at 2.435, and an extremely high dispersion. Some of the best examples of Cleiophane gems come from mines of the Madan ore field, Rhodope Mountains, Smolyan Oblast, Bulgaria. Gems from this area are light to medium shades of green and can be quite large, up to about 40 carats.

Locations for finding Cleiophane: Dzhezkazgan Mine, Krushev dol mine and Septemvri mine (Deveti Septemvri mine), Madan ore field, Rhodope Mountains, Smolyan Oblast, Bulgaria; in Kazakhstan at the Zhezqazghan Mine, Dzhezkazgan (Zhezqazghan), Karagandy Province (Qaragandy Oblysy; Karaganda Oblast'); in Russia at Mangazeiskoe Sn-Ag deposit, Mangazeisky ore cluster, Western Verkhoyansk District, Verkhoyansk Silver Province, Verkhoyansk Fold Belt, Sakha Republic (Saha Republic; Yakutia), Eastern-Siberian Region; Shkatulka pegmatite, Umbozero mine (Umbozerskii mine; Umba Mine), Alluaiv Mt, Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia; Banská Štiavnica (Schemnitz), Banská Štiavnica County, Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia; in the USA at Syndicate pit, Walkerville, Butte District (Summit Valley District), Silver Bow County, Montana; Joppa Hill, Amherst, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire; Franklin and Sterling Mines, Franklin Mining District, Sussex County, New Jersey.
 

  
Cleiophane gems for sale:

We have not photographed our Cleiophane gems. Please check back soon.