erythrite

[ ih-rith-rahyt, er-uh-thrahyt ]

noun

1. a mineral, hydrous cobalt arsenate, Co 3 As 2 O 8 ⋅8H 2 O, occurring as a powdery, usually red incrustation on cobalt minerals; cobalt bloom.
2. erythritol.

erythrite

/ ɪˈrɪθraɪt /

noun

1. Also calledcobalt bloom a pink to purple secondary mineral consisting of hydrated cobalt arsenate in monoclinic crystalline form. Formula: Co 3 (AsO 4 ) 2 .8H 2 O
2. another name for erythritol

Word History and Origins

Origin of erythrite¹

First recorded in 1835–45; erythr- ( def ) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Under weathering conditions these minerals oxidize readily to form asbolite, a mixture of cobalt and manganese oxides, and the pink arsenate, erythrite or "cobalt bloom."

From Project Gutenberg