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

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.

Its chief ores are zincite, ZnO, sphalerite or blende, ZnS, Smithsonite, ZnCO3.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips

FeS2, or pyrite, PbS, or galenite, ZnS, or sphalerite, CuFeS2, or chalcopyrite, etc.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips

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

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 Webster, Noah