Sphalerite
Blende or sphalerite belongs to the sulfide group. It contains zinc and sulfur. Its chemical formula is ZnS.
BLENDE occurs in massive form or in translucent dodecahedral crystals with a resinous appearance reminiscent of garnets. It has a yellow-brown to very dark brown color with sometimes reddish reflections.
The density of Blende is between 3.6 and 4.2 (1 for water) and its hardness between 3 and 4/10 on the Mohs scale (10 for diamond). The line on porcelain is yellowish-brown.
The name Sphalerite comes from the Greek word "sphaleros" which means deceiver . The other name Blende given to this mineral is derived from the German and means ore .
