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  

/ ˈsfeɪlə-, ˈsfæləˌraɪt /

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

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

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William

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

A set of specimens was exhibited by the Ellenville Zinc Company, consisting of strikingly beautiful crystalline masses of quartz galina, sphalerite and chalcopyrite and specimens of the rare mineral, brookite.

From New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904 Report of the New York State Commission by Ellis, DeLancey M.

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

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

Examine brimstone, flowers of sulphur, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galenite, gypsum, barite.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips