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  

/ ˈsfæləˌraɪt, ˈsfeɪlə- /

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

See Examples For:

sphalerite

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

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

This substance occurs as the mineral sphalerite, and is one of the most valued ores of zinc.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by William McPherson

Examine zincite, sphalerite, Smithsonite, sheet zinc, galvanized iron, granulated zinc, zinc dust.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Rufus Phillips Williams

A name given by English miners to sphalerite, or zinc blende; Ð called also false galena.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster