cristobalite

[kri-stoh-buh-lahyt]

noun

Mineralogy.

1. a polymorph of quartz occurring in volcanic rock in the form of colorless, translucent crystals.

cristobalite

/ krɪsˈtəʊbəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a white microcrystalline mineral consisting of silica and occurring in volcanic rocks. Formula: SiO 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of cristobalite¹

1885–90; named after San Cristóbal, a hill near Pachuca de Soto, Mexico; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cristobalite¹

C19: from German, named after Cerro San Cristóbal, Mexico, where it was discovered