gangue

[ gang ]

/ gæŋ /

rock or mineral matter of no value occurring with the metallic ore in a vein or deposit.

Origin of gangue

1800–10; < French < German Gang; see gang¹

At these places, it is most frequently connected with a gangue of heavy spar and calcareous spar, with pyrites of iron.

Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820 |Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
Very often the gangue material is more largely calcite than quartz, whereas calcite is not present in the deep zone.

The Economic Aspect of Geology |C. K. Leith
Several gangs of Elk from 100 to 200 in a gangue on the river, great numbers of Antelopes.

The Journals of Lewis and Clark |Meriwether Lewis and William Clark
The sulphur of the galena falls to the bottom of the bath, and may be separated from the gangue by solution in carbon disulphide.

Scientific American Supplement, No. 433, April 19, 1884 |Various

And that with ores almost free from gangue some quartz or glass should be added to protect the crucible.

A Textbook of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines. |Cornelius Beringer and John Jacob Beringer

gangue

/ (ɡæŋ) /

valueless and undesirable material, such as quartz in small quantities, in an ore

C19: from French gangue, from German Gang vein of metal, course; see gang 1