apophyllite

[uh-pof-uh-lahyt, ap-uh-fil-ahyt]

noun

1. a hydrous potassium and calcium silicate mineral occurring in white crystals.

apophyllite

/ əˈpɒfɪˌlaɪt, ˌæpəˈfɪlaɪt /

noun

1. a white, colourless, pink, or green mineral consisting of a hydrated silicate of calcium, potassium, and fluorine in tetragonal crystalline form. It occurs in cracks in volcanic rocks. Formula: KCa 4 (Si 4 O 10 ) 2 (OH 1 F).8H 2 O

Word History and Origins

Origin of apophyllite¹

First recorded in 1800–10; apo- + -phyll + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of apophyllite¹

C19: from French, from _apo- + Greek phullon leaf + _-ite ¹ ; referring to its tendency to exfoliate

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.

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Examples of substances which crystallize in this class are cassiterite, rutile, anatase, zircon, thorite, vesuvianite, apophyllite, phosgenite, also boron, tin, mercuric iodide.

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When heated before the blowpipe, the mineral exfoliates, owing to loss of water, and on this account was named apophyllite by R.J.

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Apophyllite is a mineral of secondary origin, commonly occurring, in association with other zeolites, in amygdaloidal cavities in basalt and melaphyre.

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Apophyllite always occurs as distinct crystals, which belong to the tetragonal system.

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