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greenockite

American  
[gree-nuh-kahyt] / ˈgri nəˌkaɪt /

noun

  1. a yellow mineral, cadmium sulfide, CdS, associated with zinc ores and used as a source of cadmium.


greenockite British  
/ ˈɡriːnəˌkaɪt /

noun

  1. a rare yellowish mineral consisting of cadmium sulphide in hexagonal crystalline form: the only ore of cadmium. Formula: CdS

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of greenockite

1840–45; named after Charles Cathcart, Lord Greenock (1807–43), Englishman who discovered it; -ite 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Previous to the recent discovery in Sardinia of cadmium oxide as small octahedral crystals, greenockite was the only known mineral containing cadmium as an essential constituent.

From Project Gutenberg

Nearly the only cadmium mineral known is the sulphide, greenockite, but no deposits of this mineral have been found of sufficient volume to be called cadmium ores.

From Project Gutenberg

Cadmium occurs in nature as cadmium sulphide in greenockite, CdS, which is very rare.

From Project Gutenberg

It occurs in combination with sulphur in greenockite, and in some ores of zinc.

From Project Gutenberg

Sphalerite almost always contains a little cadmium, probably as the sulphide; and in zinc deposits crystals of sphalerite in cavities are frequently covered with a greenish-yellow film or coating of greenockite.

From Project Gutenberg