3. Metallurgical ores and concentrates

3.1 Zinc minerals

Zinc ores are essentially sulfide ores, with varying degrees of complexity depending on their mineral associations. Some deposits of oxidized ores have been mined.

3.1.1 Sulfides

Blende (ZnS) and würtzite (ZnS) are the two main polymorphs. Blende crystallizes in a face-centered cubic system, while würtzite crystallizes in a compact hexagonal lattice. In addition to this difference, würtzite has a sulfur deficiency compared to blende, due to lacunar defects.

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