sphalerite

See also: Sphalerite and sphalérite

English

Sphalerite

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsfæl.əˌɹaɪt/, /ˈsfeɪ.ləˌɹaɪt/

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.
   • 2009 February 6, Jamie J. Wilkinson et al., “Anomalously Metal-Rich Fluids Form Hydrothermal Ore Deposits”, in Science‎^[1], 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

• blende
• zincblende

Derived terms

• sphaleritic

Translations

mineral

• Catalan: esfalerita f
• Finnish: sinkkivälke (fi)
• French: sphalérite (fr) f
• German: Sphalerit m, Zinkblende f
• Hungarian: szfalerit (hu)
• Italian: sfalerite f, blenda f
• Polish: blenda cynkowa f, sfaleryt (pl) f
• Portuguese: esfalerita f, blenda f
• Spanish: esfalerita f, blenda f

Further reading

• David Barthelmy (1997–2025) “Sphalerite”, in Webmineral Mineralogy Database.
• “sphalerite”, in Mindat.org‎^[2], Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, 2000–2025.