sphalerite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “sphalerite” mean?
A common mineral, zinc sulfide (ZnS), which is the principal ore of zinc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common mineral, zinc sulfide (ZnS), which is the principal ore of zinc.
A naturally occurring, often resinous or submetallic mineral that can appear in various colors (black, brown, yellow, red) due to impurities. It is sometimes called 'blende'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both regions use 'sphalerite' as the standard scientific term. 'Zinc blende' is an older synonym occasionally found in both.
Connotations
Purely technical, with no cultural or regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both varieties, confined to specialist fields.
Grammar
How to Use “sphalerite” in a Sentence
[Sphalerite] + [verb: occurs, forms, is found, contains][Adjective: massive, crystalline] + [sphalerite][To mine/extract] + [sphalerite]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sphalerite” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The sphalerite in this region is notably rich in cadmium.
- Geologists identified the black mineral as marmatitic sphalerite.
American English
- The mine's primary economic mineral is sphalerite.
- Under UV light, some sphalerite exhibits fluorescence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in reports or discussions concerning zinc mining or commodity markets.
Academic
Standard term in geology, earth sciences, and chemistry publications.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context, used in field descriptions, lab analyses, and industry documentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sphalerite”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sphalerite”
- Misspelling as 'sphalarite' or 'sphalerate'.
- Mispronouncing the initial 'sph-' as /sf/ instead of /sf/ (the 'p' is silent).
- Using it as a general term for any zinc compound.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Galena is lead sulfide (PbS), while sphalerite is zinc sulfide (ZnS). They are often found together in ore deposits.
Its color varies due to trace impurities like iron, cadmium, or manganese substituting for zinc in the crystal structure.
Marmatite is a dark, iron-rich variety of sphalerite.
It is occasionally cut as a collector's gemstone due to its high dispersion ('fire'), but it is too soft for most jewellery.
A common mineral, zinc sulfide (ZnS), which is the principal ore of zinc.
Sphalerite is usually technical/scientific in register.
Sphalerite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsfæləˌrʌɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsfæləˌraɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'zinc FAILed to be bright' because sphalerite (zinc ore) often looks dull compared to other metallic ores.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (Highly technical term).
Practice
Quiz
Sphalerite is primarily an ore of which metal?