chalcanthite

American  

[kal-kan-thahyt] / kælˈkæn θaɪt /

noun

1. Mineralogy. blue vitriol.

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chalcanthite British  

/ kælˈkænθaɪt /

noun

1. a blue secondary mineral consisting of hydrated copper sulphate in triclinic crystalline form. Formula: CuSO 4 .5H 2 O

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Etymology

Origin of chalcanthite

1855–60; < Latin chalcanth ( um ) (< Greek chálkanthon blue vitriol, literally, flower of copper, equivalent to chalk ( ós ) copper + ánth ( os ) flower + -on neuter suffix) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

The oxide group of minerals—including the copper carbonates, azurite and malachite; the silicate, chrysocolla; the oxide, cuprite; the sulphates, chalcanthite and brochantite; and some native copper associated with these minerals—probably supplies another 5 per cent.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

It occurs in cupriferous mine waters and as the minerals chalcanthite or cyanosite, CuSO4�5H2O, and boothite, CuSO4�7H2O.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 3 "Convention" to "Copyright" by Various