blende
/blend/
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Definition
- Noun:
- A mineral ore that is the primary source of zinc: "Blende" refers to a naturally occurring mineral, specifically zinc sulfide (ZnS), which is the most important ore for extracting zinc metal. It is also commonly known as sphalerite.
Usage
- "Blende" is a technical term used primarily in geology, mineralogy, and mining contexts. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation.
- It is typically used as a countable noun (e.g., , ), though it is often treated as a mass noun when referring to the ore in bulk.
Examples
- Noun:
- The miners extracted a rich vein of blende from the mountain.
- Zinc is primarily obtained from the processing of blende.
- Under ultraviolet light, some specimens of blende can fluoresce.
Advanced Usage
- "Black Jack": An old miner's term for dark-colored, iron-rich sphalerite (blende).
- The prospector was excited to find a seam of Black Jack in the old mine.
- In metallurgy, "blende" specifically denotes the raw zinc sulfide ore before it is roasted and processed to produce zinc oxide and then metallic zinc.
Variants and Related Words
- Sphalerite (n): The more precise mineralogical name for "blende." While "blende" is the traditional mining term, "sphalerite" is the name used in scientific classification.
- The geologist identified the crystal as sphalerite, not galena.
- Zinc Blende (n): A fuller term sometimes used to specify the zinc ore, distinguishing it from other minerals historically called "blende" (like "hornblende").
- The zinc blende from this region is particularly high grade.
Synonyms
- Sphalerite: The scientific synonym for blende.
- Zinc sulfide ore: A descriptive synonym highlighting its chemical composition and purpose.
Notes on Different Meanings
- The standalone word "blende" almost exclusively refers to zinc sulfide (sphalerite). However, it is a component of the name for other minerals (e.g., hornblende, a silicate mineral). These are distinct substances and should not be confused with zinc blende.
Noun
- an ore that is the chief source of zinc; consists largely of zinc sulfide in crystalline form