闪锌矿是种由锌和铁结合的硫化物。晶形常为四面体状。纯闪锌矿近于无色，但随着成分中铁含量的增加由浅黄、黄褐、棕甚至黑色，因此难鉴定。具有完全的菱形十二面体解理。

闪锌矿常与方铅矿密切共生在热液矿床中。主要的矿场位在西班牙北部的坎塔布连山脉、墨西哥的索诺拉州、中国南京栖霞等地方，是分布最广的锌矿之一。

闪锌矿是炼锌的主要原料，也是一部分铟、镓等稀散元素的来源。

Sphalerite ((Zn,Fe)S) is a mineral that is the chief ore of zinc. It consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form but almost always contains variable iron. When iron content is high it is an opaque black variety, marmatite. It is usually found in association with galena, pyrite, and other sulfides along with calcite, dolomite, and fluorite. Miners have also been known to refer to sphalerite as zinc blende, black-jack, and ruby jack.