sillimanite

[ sil-uh-muh-nahyt ]

noun

1. a mineral, aluminum silicate, Al 2 SiO 5 , occurring in the form of long, slender, and often fibrous crystals.

sillimanite

/ ˈsɪlɪməˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a white, brown, or green fibrous mineral that consists of aluminium silicate in orthorhombic crystalline form and occurs in metamorphic rocks. Formula: Al 2 SiO 5

sillimanite

/ sĭl′ə-mə-nīt′ /

1. A usually white, pale-green or brown orthorhombic mineral occurring as long, slender, fibrous crystals in metamorphic rocks. It is a polymorph of andalusite and kyanite, but can form at higher temperatures than either of these. Chemical formula: Al 2 SiO 5 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of sillimanite¹

1825–30; named after B. Silliman; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sillimanite¹

C19: named after Benjamin Silliman (1779–1864), US chemist

Example Sentences

Gazprom has been producing gas from the Sillimanite field, which is spread across UK and Dutch waters, since 2020.

From BBC

The Sillimanite field, which is 200km from the Dutch coast, is operated in a joint venture between Russian firm Gazprom and German company Wintershall.

From BBC

In these biotite hornfelses the minerals, which consist of aluminium silicates, are commonly found; they are usually andalusite and 711 sillimanite, but kyanite appears also in hornfelses, especially in those which have a schistose character.

From Project Gutenberg

Sillimanite usually forms exceedingly minute needles embedded in quartz.

From Project Gutenberg

Among these may be mentioned cordierite and sillimanite gneisses, andalusite and kyanite mica schists, and those schistose calc silicate rocks which are known as cipolins.

From Project Gutenberg