Sphalerite

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Sphalerite \Sphal"er*ite\, n. [Gr. ??? slippery, uncertain. See
     {Blende}.] (Min.)
     Zinc sulphide; -- called also {blende}, {black-jack}, {false
     galena}, etc. See {Blende}
     (a) .
         [1913 Webster]



From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Blende \Blende\, n. [G., fr. blenden to blind, dazzle, deceive,
     fr. blind blind. So called either in allusion to its dazzling
     luster; or (Dana) because, though often resembling galena, it
     yields no lead. Cf. {Sphalerite}.] (Min.)
     (a) A mineral, called also {sphalerite}, and by miners {mock
         lead}, {false galena}, and {black-jack}. It is a zinc
         sulphide, but often contains some iron. Its color is
         usually yellow, brown, or black, and its luster resinous.
     (b) A general term for some minerals, chiefly metallic
         sulphides which have a somewhat brilliant but nonmetallic
         luster.
         [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  sphalerite
       n : an ore that is the chief source of zinc; consists largely of
           zinc sulfide in crystalline form [syn: {zinc blende}, {blende}]