chalcanthite

[ kal-kan-thahyt ]

noun

1. Mineralogy. blue vitriol.

chalcanthite

/ kælˈkænθaɪt /

noun

1. a blue secondary mineral consisting of hydrated copper sulphate in triclinic crystalline form. Formula: CuSO 4 .5H 2 O

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalcanthite¹

1855–60; < Latin chalcanth ( um ) (< Greek chálkanthon blue vitriol, literally, flower of copper, equivalent to chalk ( ós ) copper + ánth ( os ) flower + -on neuter suffix) + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalcanthite¹

C19: via German from Latin chalcanthum copper sulphate solution, from Greek khalkanthon, from khalkos copper + anthos flower; see -ite ¹