gangue

American  

[gang] / gæŋ /

noun

1. rock or mineral matter of no value occurring with the metallic ore in a vein or deposit.

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gangue British  

/ ɡæŋ /

noun

1. valueless and undesirable material, such as quartz in small quantities, in an ore

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Etymology

Origin of gangue

1800–10; < French < German Gang; gang ¹

Example Sentences

These elements generally occur, combined physically or chemically, as a tiny, tiny, tiny fraction of heavy, bulky, relatively worthless but intimately associated rock material known as gangue.

From Washington Post • May 18, 2017

Metamorphism of iron and/or sulfide deposits commonly results in an increase in grain size that makes separation of gangue from the desired sulfide or oxide minerals much easier.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

All ore minerals are mixed with less desirable components called gangue.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

The process of physically separating gangue minerals from ore-bearing minerals is called concentrating.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

In the latter locality arsenopyrite is found associated with pyrite in a gangue of quartz, forming a series of parallel stringers in gneiss close to a basic dike.

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