andalusite

American  

[an-dl-oo-sahyt] / ˌæn dlˈu saɪt /

noun

Mineralogy.

1. an orthorhombic form of aluminum silicate, Al 2 SiO 5 , found in schistose rocks.

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andalusite British  

/ ˌændəˈluːsaɪt /

noun

1. a grey, pink, or brown hard mineral consisting of aluminium silicate in orthorhombic crystalline form. It occurs in metamorphic rocks and is used as a refractory and as a gemstone. Formula: Al 2 SiO 5

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andalusite Scientific  

/ ăn′də-lo̅o̅′sīt′ /

1. A hard, grayish white to pinkish brown orthorhombic mineral. Andalusite occurs as nearly square prisms, often with cross-shaped cross sections, in metamorphic rocks. It is a polymorph of kyanite and sillimanite, but forms at shallower depths than they do, and at higher temperatures than kyanite and lower temperatures than sillimanite. Chemical formula: Al ₂ SiO ₅ .

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Etymology

Origin of andalusite

1830–40; named after Andalusia, where it was first found; see -ite ¹