chromite

[ kroh-mahyt ]

noun

1. Chemistry. a salt of chromium in the bivalent state.
2. Mineralogy. a cubic mineral, ferrous chromate, Fe 3 Cr 2 O 3 , usually with much of the ferrous iron and aluminum replaced by magnesium, and some of the chromium by ferric iron: the principal ore of chromium.

chromite

/ ˈkrəʊmaɪt /

noun

1. a brownish-black mineral consisting of a ferrous chromic oxide in cubic crystalline form, occurring principally in basic igneous rocks: the only commercial source of chromium and its compounds. Formula: FeCr 2 O 4
2. a salt of chromous acid

Word History and Origins

Origin of chromite¹

1830–40; chrom(ium) or chrom(ate) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

This vast mountain range is also rich in copper, gold, nickel, chromite and limestone.

From BBC

One of the most advanced projects, a chromite mine, was put on ice in 2013 due to risks associated with developing basic infrastracture, including roads and power lines.

From Reuters

First, the rock shows a slow increase in extraterrestrial chromite that lasted between 2 million and 4 million years.

From Scientific American

Afghanistan is a mountainous, land-locked nation that has huge, largely untouched reserves of copper, iron ore, chromite, mercury, zinc, gems, including rubies and emeralds, as well as gold and silver.

From Seattle Times

The government estimates that 60-70 percent of small-scale miners in the country operate illegally, many of them digging for gold, silver and chromite.

From Reuters