Main Entry:

sphal·er·ite

Pronunciation:

\ˈsfa-lə-ˌrīt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

German Sphalerit, from Greek sphaleros deceitful, from sphallein to cause to fall; from its often being mistaken for galena — more at spill

Date:

circa 1868

: a mineral composed essentially of zinc sulfide that is the most important ore of zinc —called also zinc blende