sphalerite

See also: Sphalerite and sphalérite

English
Sphalerite

Etymology

From Ancient Greek σφαλερός (sphalerós, “unstable, unsteady, precarious”) +‎ -ite; named in 1847.[1][2]

Pronunciation
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈsfæl.ə.ˌɹaɪt/, /ˈsfeɪ.lə.ˌɹaɪt/

Noun

sphalerite (plural sphalerites)

  1. (mineralogy) A yellow, brown or black, sometimes red, green white or colorless mineral with cubic crystals, of a chemical formula (Zn,Fe)S, often containing also minor metals, such as cadmium, gallium, germanium and indium.[1]
    • 2009 February 6, Jamie J. Wilkinson et al., “Anomalously Metal-Rich Fluids Form Hydrothermal Ore Deposits”, in Science‎, volume 323, number 5915, →DOI, pages 764–767:
      The Monte Cristo and Philadelphia sphalerites have similar mean Pb concentrations (80 ppm) that are lower than the Lucky Dog sphalerites (119 ppm).

Synonyms

Derived terms
  • sphaleritic

Translations

References
  1. Richard V. Gaines, H. Catherine W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, and Abraham Rosenzweig: Dana's new mineralogy, John Wiley & Sons, 1997
  2. James D. Dana: Dana's System of Mineralogy. Volume I, 7th ed., revised by Charles Palache, Harry Berman, and Clifford Frondel. John Wiley & Sons, 1944

Further reading
  • David Barthelmy (1997–2024) “Sphalerite”, in Webmineral Mineralogy Database.
  • “sphalerite”, in Mindat.org‎, Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, 2000–2024.
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