SPHALERITE

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sphalerite mean? 

• SPHALERITE (noun)
  The noun SPHALERITE has 1 sense:

1. an ore that is the chief source of zinc; consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form

  Familiarity information: SPHALERITE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPHALERITE (noun)

Meaning:

An ore that is the chief source of zinc; consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

blende; sphalerite; zinc blende

Hypernyms ("sphalerite" is a kind of...):

mineral (solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition)

Meronyms (substance of "sphalerite"):

atomic number 49; In; indium (a rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite)

atomic number 81; thallium; Tl (a soft grey malleable metallic element that resembles tin but discolors on exposure to air; it is highly toxic and is used in rodent and insect poisons; occurs in zinc blende and some iron ores)