noun
- plural of sphalerite; zinc sulfide minerals that are the primary ore of zinc
Usage: mineralogy; geology
Examples
- The mine contained rich deposits of sphalerites.
- Geologists identified several varieties of sphalerites in the rock samples.
- Sphalerites are commonly found in hydrothermal veins.
- The dark sphalerites contrasted with the lighter quartz crystals.
- Mining companies extract zinc from sphalerites through smelting processes.
- These sphalerites exhibit a distinctive metallic luster.