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illite

American

[il-ahyt] / ˈɪl aɪt /

noun

any of a group of clay minerals, hydrous potassium aluminosilicates, characterized by a three-layer micalike structure and a gray, light green, or yellowish-brown color.

illite British

/ ˈɪlaɪt /

noun

a clay mineral of the mica group, found in shales and mudstones. Crystal structure: monoclinic. Formula: K 1–1.5 Al 4 (Si 6.5–7 Al 1–1.5 O 20 )(OH) 4

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

illitic

adjective

Etymology

Origin of illite

First recorded in 1937; Ill(inois) ² ( def. ) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

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These include the clay minerals kaolinite, illite, and smectite, and although they are difficult to study because of their very small size, they are extremely important components of rocks and especially of soils.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

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