benitoite

American

[buh-nee-toh-ahyt] / bəˈni toʊˌaɪt /

noun

a rare mineral, barium titanium silicate, BaTiSi 3 O 9 , occurring in blue hexagonal crystals exhibiting dichroism.

Etymology

Origin of benitoite

1905–10; named after San Benito County, California; see -ite ¹

Example Sentences

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benitoite

Farther north, in San Benito County in central California, is the world’s only known source of benitoite, a bright blue gem coveted by collectors.

From New York Times ● Dec. 5, 2022

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023