augite

American  

[aw-jahyt] / ˈɔ dʒaɪt /

noun

1. a silicate mineral, chiefly of calcium, magnesium, iron, and aluminum: a dark-green to black variety of monoclinic pyroxene, characteristic of basic rocks.

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augite British  

/ ɔːˈɡɪtɪk, ˈɔːɡaɪt /

noun

1. a black or greenish-black mineral of the pyroxene group, found in igneous rocks. Composition: calcium magnesium iron aluminium silicate. General formula: (Ca,Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al) 2 O 6 . Crystal structure: monoclinic

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augite Scientific  

/ ô′jīt′ /

1. A glassy, dark-green to black variety of pyroxene. Chemical formula: (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al) ₂ O ₆ .

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Other Word Forms

• augitic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of augite

1780–90; < Latin augītis a kind of precious stone < Greek, equivalent to aug ( ḗ ) sunlight + -ītis, feminine of -ītēs -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Like obsidian, in fact, their edges are sharp but the shards have an almost twirly shape and lack the crystalline structure of black-colored minerals like augite or tourmaline.

From Salon • Mar. 4, 2025

Dol�erite, compact rock of the Basaltic series, but crystalline throughout, composed of augite and labradorite with some titaniferous iron ore and often olivine.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia Volume 4, Part 1: Deposition to Eberswalde by Various

Pertaining to, or like, augite; containing augite as a principal constituent; as, augitic rocks.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah

Hornblende is green, rarely brownish; augite pale green or nearly colourless; enstatite appears in some granulite-gneisses.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various

Sahlite, s�′līt, n. a variety of augite, from the silver-mines of Sahla in Sweden.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various