Sphalerite

Origin

From Greek σφαλερὀς (sfaleros) "treacherous", named in 1847.

Richard V. Gaines, H. Catherine W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason, and Abraham Rosenzweig: Dana's new mineralogy, John Wiley & Sons, 1997

James D. Dana: Dana's System of Mineralogy. Volume I, seventh edition, revised by Charles Palache, Harry Berman, and Clifford Frondel. John Wiley & Sons, 1944

Noun

1. (mineralogy) A yellow, brown or black, sometimes red, green white or colorless mineral with cubic crystals, of a chemical formula (Zn,Fe)S.
• February 6, 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
• zinc blende