sphalerite

sphalerite
/sfal"euh ruyt', sfay"leuh-/, n.
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.
[1865-70; < Gk sphaler(ós) slippery, deceptive + -ITE1]

* * *

Zinc sulfide (ZnS), the chief ore mineral of zinc.

It is found associated with galena in most important lead-zinc deposits. The most important deposits are in the Mississippi River valley (U.S.), Poland, Belgium, and North Africa. See also sulfide mineral.

Sphalerite from Baxter Springs, Kan.

By courtesy of the Ted and Elsie Boente Collection; photograph, John H. Gerard
EB Inc.

* * *

also called  Blende, or Zincblende,  
 zinc sulfide (ZnS), the chief ore mineral of zinc. It is found associated with galena in most important lead-zinc deposits. The name sphalerite is derived from a Greek word meaning treacherous, in allusion to the ease with which the dark-coloured, opaque varieties are mistaken for galena (a valuable lead ore). The alternative names blende and zincblende, from the German word meaning “blind,” similarly allude to the fact that sphalerite does not yield lead. For detailed physical properties, see sulfide mineral (table).

      In the United States the most important sphalerite deposits are those in the Mississippi River valley region. There it is found associated with chalcopyrite, galena, marcasite, and dolomite in solution cavities and brecciated (fractured) zones in limestone and chert. Similar deposits occur in Poland, Belgium, and North Africa.

      Sphalerite also is distributed worldwide as an ore mineral in hydrothermal vein deposits, in contact metamorphic zones, and in high-temperature replacement deposits.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sphalérite — Catégorie II : sulfures et sulfosels[1] Sphalérite, Mines de Huaron Pérou (4x4cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Sphalerite — Sphalérite Sphalérite Catégorie II : sulfures et sulfosels Sphalérite, Mines de Huaron Pérou (4x4cm) …   Wikipédia en Français

  • sphalérite — ● sphalérite nom féminin (grec sphaleros, trompeur) Synonyme de blende. ● sphalérite (synonymes) nom féminin (grec sphaleros, trompeur) Synonymes : blende …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • 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] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sphalerite — Sphalerite, Mineraliengruppe, soviel wie Blenden …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • sphalerite — [sfal′ər īt΄, sfāl′ər īt΄] n. [Ger sphalerit < Gr sphaleros, deceptive (< sphallein, to trip, deceive: for IE base see SPOIL) + it, ITE1: so named from being mistaken for other ores] a usually brownish mineral, (Zn,Fe)S, the chief ore of… …   English World dictionary

  • Sphalerite — Zincblende redirects here. For crystal structure, see Zincblende (crystal structure). Sphalerite Sphalerite on dolomite from the Tri State District, Jasper County, Missouri, USA General …   Wikipedia

  • sphalerite — 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,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sphalerite — sfaleritas statusas T sritis radioelektronika atitikmenys: angl. sphalerite vok. Sphalerit, m; Zinkblende, f rus. сфалерит, m; цинковая обманка, f pranc. blende, f; sulfure de zinc, m …   Radioelektronikos terminų žodynas

  • sphalerite — sfaleritas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Mineralas. formulė ZnS atitikmenys: angl. sphalerite rus. сфалерит; цинковая обманка ryšiai: sinonimas – cinko blizgis …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”