Schalenblende is a layered ore primarily composed of sphalerite and wurtzite, with a metallic to submetallic luster, and opaque to translucent transparency. Its colour ranges from brown and black to silver, and it has a hardness of 3.5–4 on the Mohs scale. Other properties include a density of 4.0–4.1 g/cm³, a dark brown to black streak, and a tendency to form in layered or botryoidal masses rather than distinct crystals