inosilicate

[in-uh-sil-i-kit, -keyt, ahy-nuh-]

noun Mineralogy.

any silicate having a structure consisting of paired parallel chains of tetrahedral silicate groups, every other of which shares an oxygen atom with a group of the other chain, the ratio of silicon to oxygen being 4 to 11.

Compare cyclosilicate, nesosilicate, sorosilicate, tektosilicate.

Origin of inosilicate

< Greek īno- (combining form of ī́s fiber, sinew) + silicate