sphalerite

American

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

noun

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.

sphalerite British

/ ˈsfæləˌraɪt, ˈsfeɪlə- /

noun

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

"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

sphalerite Scientific

/ sfăl′ə-rīt′ /

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.

Etymology

Origin of sphalerite

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

See Examples For:

sphalerite

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

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

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

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Rufus Phillips Williams

The minerals containing lead are principally galenite or lead sulphate, cerussite or lead carbonate; while the zinc is contained in the minerals, sphalerite or zinc sulphide, calamine or zinc silicate, smithsonite or zinc carbonate, etc.

From North America by Israel C. (Cook) Russell

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

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

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023