An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

In the → Goldschmidt classification, a → chemical element that has an → affinity for sulphur, and therefore tending to be more abundant in sulphide minerals and ores than in other types of rock. This group is depleted in the silicate Earth and may be concentrated in the core. The group includes → silver (Ag), → arsenic (As), → bismuth (Bi), → cadmium (Cd), → copper (Cu), → mercury (Hg), → indium (In), → lead (Pb), → sulfur (S), → antimony (Sb), → selenium (Se), → tellurium (Te), and → thallium (Tl).

As a consequence of their relatively low

condensation temperatures (500-1100 K), most of these elements are depleted in terrestrial planets with respect to chondrites.

See also: → chalcophile; → element.