omphacite

[ om-fuh-sahyt ]

noun

, Mineralogy.

1. a pale-green variety of pyroxene similar to olivine, found in eclogite.

Word History and Origins

Origin of omphacite¹

1820–30; < German Omphazit < Greek omphakī́tēs green stone, equivalent to omphak- (stem of ómphax ) unripe grape + -ītēs -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Omphacite, om′fa-sīt, n. a grass-green granular variety of pyroxene, one of the constituents of eclogite.—adj.

From Project Gutenberg

With omphacite and smaragdite, garnet forms the peculiar rock called eclogite.

From Project Gutenberg