The absorption coefficient of evaporated zinc sulphide has been measured between 0.27 and 0.60 μm. A kink has been found at 0.332 μm. The effects of cooling at liquid-air temperature and of ageing at 200 °C on the absorption curve have been measured. A comparison has been made with other published results. The Urbach rule for the long-wavelength tail of the absorption curve was found to be followed only by the average curve.