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sphalerite
sphalerite (black jack, zinc blende) Mineral, ZnS; sp. gr. 3.9–4.1; hardness 3.5–4.0; cubic; colour variable, but commonly yellow, brown, or black, and crystals can be transparent to translucent; brownish red to bright yellow or white streak; resinous to near-metallic lustre; crystals tetrahedral or dodecahedral, with curved faces, but also granular, fibrous, or botryoidal; conchoidal fracture; cleavage perfect galena; the most common ore mineral for zinc metal, Zn—Pb is common in strata-bound veins and massive sulphide deposits, frequently associated with galena in hydrothermal veins, and in limestones where it occurs by replacement, commonly with pyrite, pyrrhotite, and magnetite; dissolves in concentrated nitric acid with the separation of sulphur.
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AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "sphalerite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "sphalerite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-sphalerite.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "sphalerite." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-sphalerite.html |
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sphalerite
sphalerite , mineral composed of zinc sulfide, usually containing some iron and a little cadmium. It occurs in crystals of the isometric system but more generally in cleavable, compact masses. It is transparent to translucent and varies greatly in color, iron-free specimens being pale yellow and those with iron being brown, red, black, or green. The most important source of zinc , sphalerite is a widely distributed mineral that commonly occurs in association with galena. It is found in large deposits in many parts of the world. |
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"sphalerite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sphalerite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sphaleri.html "sphalerite." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-sphaleri.html |
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sphalerite
sphalerite (blende) Sulphide mineral composed of zinc sulphide (ZnS), an important source of zinc. It has cubic system tetrahedral crystals or granular masses. It is white when pure, but more commonly yellow, black, or brown with a resinous lustre. Hardness 3.5–4; r.d. 4.
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Cite this article
"sphalerite." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sphalerite." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sphalerite.html "sphalerite." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-sphalerite.html |
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