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Blende

(Science: chemical) a mineral, called also sphalerite, and by miners mock lead, false galena, and black-jack. It is a zinc sulphide, but often contains some iron. Its colour is usually yellow, brown, or black, and its luster resinous.

a general term for some minerals, chiefly metallic sulphides which have a somewhat brilliant but nonmetallic luster.

Origin: g, fr. Blenden to blind, dazzle, deceive, fr. Blind blind. So called either in allusion to its dazzling luster; or (Dana) because, though often resembling galena, it yields no lead. Cf. Sphalerite.