beryllonite

[ buh-ril-uh-nahyt ]

noun

1. a mineral, sodium beryllium phosphate, NaBePO 4 , occurring in colorless or light-yellow crystals, sometimes used as a gemstone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of beryllonite¹

1885–90; < Greek bērýll ( i ) on ( bḗryll ( os ) beryl + -ion diminutive suffix) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Diamond is composed of only a single element; ruby, sapphire and the quartz-group are oxides; spinel and chrysoberyl may be regarded as aluminates; turquoise and Chemical composition. beryllonite are phosphates; and a great number of ornamental stones are silicates of greater or less complexity, such as emerald, topaz, chrysolite, garnet, zircon, tourmaline, kunzite, sphene and benitoite.

From Project Gutenberg