sphalerite

American  

[sfal-uh-rahyt, sfey-luh-] / ˈsfæl əˌraɪt, ˈsfeɪ lə- /

noun

1. a very common mineral, zinc sulfide, ZnS, usually containing some iron and a little cadmium, occurring in yellow, brown, or black crystals or cleavable masses with resinous luster: the principal ore of zinc and cadmium; blackjack.

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sphalerite British  

/ ˈsfeɪlə-, ˈsfæləˌraɪt /

noun

1. Also called: zinc blende.  a yellow to brownish-black mineral consisting of zinc sulphide in cubic crystalline form with varying amounts of iron, manganese, cadmium, gallium, and indium: the chief source of zinc. Formula: ZnS

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sphalerite Scientific  

/ sfăl′ə-rīt′ /

1. A usually yellow-brown or brownish-black cubic mineral occurring either as single dodecahedral crystals or as granular masses. It often contains cadmium, arsenic, or manganese and has a distinct rotten egg odor. It is often found in association with the mineral galena and is the primary ore of zinc. Chemical formula: ZnS.

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Etymology

Origin of sphalerite

1865–70; < Greek sphaler ( ós ) slippery, deceptive + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Tin comes from the ore cassiterite; zinc from sphalerite and zincblende, or blackjack.

From Let's Collect Rocks and Shells by Shell Union Oil Corporation

In addition to these definite mineral forms, silver is present in many ores in an undetermined form in other sulphides, notably in galena, sphalerite, and pyrite.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

Lead veins occur at Strontian which have yielded a number of minerals, including sphalerite, fluorite, strontianite, harmotone, brewsterite and pilolite.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 5 "Arculf" to "Armour, Philip" by Various

FeS2, or pyrite, PbS, or galenite, ZnS, or sphalerite, CuFeS2, or chalcopyrite, etc.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips

The most important mineral of zinc is the sulphide, sphalerite or "zinc blende."

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)