vesuvianite

[ vuh-soo-vee-uh-nahyt ]

noun

1. a mineral, chiefly a hydrous silicate of calcium and aluminum, commonly in tetragonal crystals and usually of a brown to green color; idocrase.

vesuvianite

/ vɪˈsuːvɪəˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a green, brown, or yellow mineral consisting of a hydrated silicate of calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminium: it occurs as tetragonal crystals in limestones and is used as a gemstone. Formula: Ca 10 (Mg,Fe) 2 Al 4 Si 9 O 34 (OH) 4 Also calledidocrasevesuvian

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesuvianite¹

First recorded in 1885–90; Vesuvian + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesuvianite¹

C19: first found in the lava of Vesuvius

Example Sentences

Also some tetragonal and hexagonal crystals, e.g. apophyllite, vesuvianite, beryl, &c., which should normally be optically uniaxial, sometimes consist of several biaxial portions arranged in sectors or in a quite irregular manner.

From Project Gutenberg