zoisite

[ zoi-sahyt ]

noun

, Mineralogy.

1. an orthorhombic dimorph of clinozoisite.

zoisite

/ ˈzɔɪˌsaɪt /

noun

1. a grey, brown, or pink mineral consisting of hydrated calcium aluminium silicate in orthorhombic crystalline form. Formula: Ca 2 Al 3 (SiO 4 ) 3 (OH)

Word History and Origins

Origin of zoisite¹

1795–1805; named after Baron S. Zois von Edelstein (1747–1819), Slovenian nobleman who discovered it; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of zoisite¹

C19: from German Zoisit; named after Baron Sigismund Zois von Edelstein (1747–1819), Slovenian nobleman; see -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The stone has the scientific name of “blue zoisite”, but it was given the name “Tanzanite” to help it sell better.

From NewsForKids.net

Zoisite, zoi′sīt, n. a mineral closely allied to epidote.

From Project Gutenberg

When this substance can be resolved by the microscope it proves to consist usually of zoisite or epidote, with garnet and albite, but mixed with it are also chlorite, amphibole, serpentine, prehnite, sericite and other minerals.

From Project Gutenberg

Their hornblende in microscopic section is usually dark green, rarely brownish; their felspar may be clear and recrystallized, but more frequently is converted into a turbid aggregate of epidote, zoisite, quartz, sericite and albite.

From Project Gutenberg

They are principally finely divided quartz, epidote, zoisite, rutile, limonite, calcite, pyrites, and very small particles of these are rarely absent from natural clays.

From Project Gutenberg