glauconite

American  

[glaw-kuh-nahyt] / ˈglɔ kəˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a greenish micaceous mineral consisting essentially of a hydrous silicate of potassium, aluminum, and iron and occurring in greensand, clays, etc.

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glauconite British  

/ ˈɡlɔːkəˌnaɪt /

noun

1. a green mineral consisting of the hydrated silicate of iron, potassium, aluminium, and magnesium: found in greensand and other similar rocks. Formula: (K,Na,Ca) 0.5-1 (Fe,Al,Mg) 2 (Si,Al) 4 O 10 (OH) 2 .nH 2 O

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Other Word Forms

• glauconitic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of glauconite

1830–40; < Greek glaukón, neuter of glaukós ( see glauco-) + -ite ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

glauconite

Less than a half-hour from Philadelphia, the Edelman, which opened March 29, takes full advantage of its site, once a sea teeming with marine creatures and, more recently, a glauconite quarry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2025

Films or stains of glauconite on shells, sand grains and phosphate nodules are explained by a similar deposit of fragmental glauconite.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 1 "Gichtel, Johann" to "Glory" by Various

The green colour, on close inspection, is seen to be due to the presence of innumerable small green grains of a mineral called glauconite.

From Sea-Weeds, Shells and Fossils by Peter Gray

They may be seen occupying these shells, and when the shell is dissolved away perfect casts of glauconite are set free.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 1 "Gichtel, Johann" to "Glory" by Various

In a small number of Tertiary and older rocks glauconite occurs as an essential component.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 1 "Gichtel, Johann" to "Glory" by Various

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