cordierite

[ kawr-dee-uh-rahyt ]

noun

1. a strongly dichroic blue mineral consisting of a silicate of magnesium, aluminum, and iron: common in metamorphic rocks.

cordierite

/ ˈkɔːdɪəˌraɪt /

noun

1. a grey or violet-blue dichroic mineral that consists of magnesium aluminium iron silicate in orthorhombic crystalline form and is found in metamorphic rocks. Formula: (Mg,Fe) 2 AL 4 Si 5 O 18 .nH 2 O Also calleddichroiteiolite

cordierite

/ kôr′dē-ə-rīt′ /

1. A light-blue to dark-blue or gray orthorhombic mineral. Cordierite is a silicate of magnesium, aluminum, and sometimes iron, and is found in granites and in metamorphic rocks that form under relatively low-pressure conditions. Chemical formula: (Mg,Fe) 2 Al 4 Si 5 O 18 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordierite¹

1805–15; named after Pierre L. A. Cordier (1777–1861), French geologist; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cordierite¹

C19: named after Pierre L. A. Cordier (1777–1861), French geologist who described it

Example Sentences

The secret's in the 13-inch cordierite stone, which helps absorb moisture while cooking.

From Salon

Multiple translucent crystals fit the bill, namely calcite, cordierite and tourmaline.

From New York Times

All three types of crystals that the team studied—calcite, a form of calcium carbonate; cordierite, an iron- and magnesium-rich silicate; and tourmaline, a boron-rich silicate—worked well at intervals of 3 hours or less.

From Science Magazine

New owners will need about 45 minutes to carefully assemble the three-legged, stainless-steel container with a 18-inch-tall smokestack before inserting the included cordierite stone baking board.

From Washington Times

In the rocks of this group cordierite also occurs, not rarely, and may have the outlines of imperfect hexagonal prisms which are divided up into six sectors when seen in polarized light.

From Project Gutenberg