Definition

Noun: 1. A mineral ore: A naturally occurring mineral that is the primary commercial source of the element zinc. It consists predominantly of zinc sulfide (ZnS) in a crystalline, often tetrahedral, form. It is also known by its mineralogical name, sphalerite.

Usage and Examples

• As a geological/mineralogical term:
  • The miners extracted zinc blende from the new vein.
  • Zinc blende is often found in association with galena (lead ore).
• As a commercial/industrial term:
  • This region's economy historically relied on mining zinc blende.
  • The smelting process converts zinc blende into pure zinc metal.

Advanced Usage

• In scientific contexts: In chemistry and crystallography, "zinc blende" can refer specifically to the cubic crystal structure of zinc sulfide (ZnS), which is also known as the sphalerite structure. This structure type is used as a reference point for describing the atomic arrangement of other compounds.
  • The semiconductor compound crystallizes in the zinc blende structure.

Variants and Related Words

• Sphalerite: The formal mineralogical name for zinc blende. The terms are often used interchangeably, though "sphalerite" is more common in precise scientific writing.
• Zinc Sulfide (ZnS): The chemical compound that constitutes zinc blende.
• Black Jack: A common, dark-colored variety of sphalerite.

Synonyms

• Sphalerite (primary synonym)
• Zinc sulfide ore

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term "zinc blende" has a highly specific meaning and is not commonly used in everyday language. Its usage is almost entirely confined to geology, mining, metallurgy, and materials science.
• It should not be confused with "zinc oxide" or other zinc compounds.

Noun

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