Which mineral is the main ore of zinc and has the chemical formula ZnS?

Sphalerite is the main ore mineral of zinc and has the chemical formula ZnS.

Sphalerite is a zinc sulfide that often contains variable amounts of iron. Its color can range from yellow and brown to black, depending largely on iron content. Transparent, pale specimens may be called “cleiophane,” while iron-rich dark material is sometimes called marmatite.

The mineral commonly forms in hydrothermal veins and in sediment-hosted or carbonate-hosted ore deposits. It is frequently associated with galena, chalcopyrite, pyrite, and other sulfide minerals. Its bright resinous luster and distinctive cleavage help mineralogists distinguish it from several other zinc minerals.

Zinc extracted from sphalerite is used to galvanize steel, helping protect iron from corrosion. It is also used in brass, batteries, die-casting alloys, and chemical products. Smithsonite is another zinc-bearing mineral, but it is a zinc carbonate and generally forms as an oxidation product above sulfide deposits. Wurtzite has the same chemical formula as sphalerite but a different crystal structure.