enargite

American  

[en-ahr-jahyt, en-er-jahyt] / ɛnˈɑr dʒaɪt, ˈɛn ərˌdʒaɪt /

noun

1. a mineral, copper arsenic and sulfide, Cu 3 AsS 4 , occurring in the form of black orthorhombic crystals having perfect cleavage: an important source of copper.

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Etymology

Origin of enargite

1850–55; < Greek enarg ( ḗs ) brilliant ( en- en- ² + -argēs, akin to argós bright, árgyros silver) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The common downward order in sulphide deposits is: first, a weathered zone, originally formed mainly above the water table, consisting above of a leached portion and below of oxides and carbonates of copper in a gangue of quartz or clay; second, a zone of secondary sulphide enrichment, characterized by chalcocite coatings, chalcopyrite, and pyrite, with a gangue of quartz and igneous rock or limestone; and third, a zone of primary deposition with similar gangue, characterized by chalcopyrite, and at Butte by enargite and chalcocite.

From Project Gutenberg

The natural inference was that as the veins were followed deeper the proportion of chalcocite would rapidly diminish, and that a leaner primary zone of chalcopyrite, enargite and other primary minerals would be met.

From Project Gutenberg