sphalerite
- noun
- /ˈsfæl.əˌraɪt/
- Specialized
:
esfalerita
- Under the microscope, sphalerite crystals are often brown or black in color.
Examples
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Geologists identified a rich deposit of sphalerite in the mountainous region.
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The mining company extracted sphalerite to produce zinc for industrial use.
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The sphalerite sample was collected from the mine.
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Can you identify the sphalerite among these minerals?
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The geologist explained that sphalerite is the chief ore of zinc and is often found in sedimentary rocks.
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During the mineral exposition, many visitors marveled at the shiny, yellowish crystals of sphalerite on display.
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Mining companies actively search for sphalerite deposits due to its significance in the production of zinc.
Synonyms
A mineral made mainly of zinc and sulfur that miners use to get zinc
A dark mineral of zinc and sulfur used as the main source of zinc
A white or yellow mineral used in glow paint and optical parts
Surface Forms
Morphology
sphalerite = sphaler + ite
The combining element 'sphaler-' is not a recognizable standalone English base and '-ite' only signals a mineral name, so learners cannot reliably infer the meaning from the parts.
Etymology
The word sphalerite comes from the Greek sphaleros, meaning 'deceitful' or 'treacherous', plus the mineral ending -ite. A helpful image is a 'deceiving' rock that looks like other minerals but is actually the main source of zinc, so the name explains its modern role as an important zinc ore.
