blende Min.
(blɛnd)
Also 8 blend.
[a. Ger. blende, from blenden to deceive: so called ‘because while often resembling galena, it yielded no lead’ (Dana); = blendendes erz ‘deceiving ore’ (Grimm). Hence also called pseudogalena, and sphalerite from σϕαλερός deceitful.]
Sulphide of zinc occurring as a native crystalline mineral.
| 1683 [cf. blendy]. 1753 Chambers Cycl. Supp., Blende..called by some mock-lead. 1780 Specif. M. Sanderson's Patent No. 1243. 3 Decomposed or calcined blend. 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 373 Zinc is procured from blende by a similar operation. Ibid. 377 In the blendes or supposed sulphurets of zinc. 1869 Roscoe Elem. Chem. 230 The chief ores of zinc are the sulphide or blende, etc. |
b. ? Formerly used of other metallic sulphides, or worthless ores. (Cf. hornblende.)
| 1781 J. Dillon Trav. Spain 231 There is no doubt but that it is cobalt, of which that state is the blend. |