Definition of sphalerite in English:
sphalerite
nounˈsfalərʌɪtˈsfæləˌraɪt
mass nounA shiny mineral, yellow to dark brown or black in colour, consisting of zinc sulphide.
Example sentencesExamples
- Marmatite is the black, high-iron variety of sphalerite.
- The crystals are perched on quartz along with rosin-colored sphalerite showing the black tarnish reported by Hurst.
- Black sphalerite is found within the gold-quartz vein and in the adjacent country rock.
- Most of the sphalerite in the Eagle mine is marmatite, the black iron-rich variety.
- With sphalerite, it is one of the rarest minerals of the pillow basalts.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek sphaleros 'deceptive' + -ite1. Compare with blende.
Definition of sphalerite in US English:
sphalerite
nounˈsfæləˌraɪtˈsfaləˌrīt
A shiny mineral, yellow to dark brown or black in color, consisting of zinc sulfide.
Example sentencesExamples
- The crystals are perched on quartz along with rosin-colored sphalerite showing the black tarnish reported by Hurst.
- With sphalerite, it is one of the rarest minerals of the pillow basalts.
- Black sphalerite is found within the gold-quartz vein and in the adjacent country rock.
- Most of the sphalerite in the Eagle mine is marmatite, the black iron-rich variety.
- Marmatite is the black, high-iron variety of sphalerite.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek sphaleros ‘deceptive’ + -ite. Compare with blende.