It is thought that greenockite is a seconday (supergenic) mineral, but there has been found primary greenockite in the Niujiaotang cadmium-zinc deposit in Guizhou.

贵州牛角塘镉锌矿床有次生硫镉矿的,也发现了生硫镉矿。

There are some independent minerals of Cd, which are secondary minerals formed during weathering and leaching, such as greenockite, otavite and oxides of Cd in the oxidized zone of the deposit.

镉主要以类质同象闪锌矿,少量镉以硫镉矿等独立矿物形式矿床的氧化带，是风化淋滤过程形成的镉的次生矿物。