sphal·er·ite (sf l  -r t )n. The primary ore of zinc, occurring in usually yellow-brown or brownish-black crystals or cleavage masses, essentially ZnS with some cadmium, iron, and manganese. Also called blende, zinc blende. [Greek sphaleros, slippery, deceitful (from sphallein, to trip, from its being easily mistaken for galena) + -ite.] |
sphalerite [ˈsfæləˌraɪt ˈsfeɪlə-]
n
(Earth Sciences / Minerals) 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 Also called zinc blende
[from Greek sphaleros deceitful, from sphallein to cause to stumble]
| sphalerite (sfl-rt) 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. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  sphalerite - an ore that is the chief source of zinc; consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline formatomic number 49, indium, In - a rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite atomic number 81, thallium, Tl - a soft grey malleable metallic element that resembles tin but discolors on exposure to air; it is highly toxic and is used in rodent and insect poisons; occurs in zinc blende and some iron ores mineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition |
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