sphalerite Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Sphal"er*ite noun
Etymology
Gr. slippery, uncertain. See Blende.
Definitions
  1. (Min.) Zinc sulphide; -- called also blende, black-jack, false galena, etc. See Blende (a).

Webster 1913