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

Example Sentences

The crystals, called cristobalite and tridymite, swim in clouds around stars just before they begin to form planets.

From The Daily Beast