allophane

[ al-uh-feyn ]

noun
  1. a clay mineral, an amorphous hydrous silicate of aluminum, occurring in blue, green, or yellow, resinous to earthy masses.

Origin of allophane

1
1835–45; <Greek allophanḗs, equivalent to allo-allo- + phan- (stem of phaínesthai to appear) + -ēs adj. suffix

Words Nearby allophane

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British Dictionary definitions for allophane

allophane

/ (ˈæləˌfeɪn) /


noun
  1. a variously coloured amorphous mineral consisting of hydrated aluminium silicate and occurring in cracks in some sedimentary rocks

Origin of allophane

1
C19: from Greek allophanēs appearing differently, from allo- + phainesthai to appear

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012