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Sphalerite - 4 dictionary results

sphal⋅er⋅ite

[sfal-uh-rahyt, sfey-luh-]
–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.

Origin:
1865–70; < Gk sphaler(ós) slippery, deceptive + -ite 1
sphal·er·ite   (sfāl'ə-rīt')   
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) + -ite1.]

Sphalerite

Sphal"er*ite\, n. [Gr. ??? slippery, uncertain. See Blende.] (Min.) Zinc sulphide; -- called also blende, black-jack, false galena, etc. See Blende (a) .
sphalerite   (sfāl'ə-rīt')  Pronunciation Key 
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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