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phosphorite

[fos-fuh-rahyt]
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noun
  1. a sedimentary rock sufficiently rich in phosphate minerals to be used as a source of phosphorus for fertilizers.
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Origin of phosphorite

First recorded in 1790–1800; phosphor- + -ite1
Related formsphos·pho·rit·ic [fos-fuh-rit-ik] /ˌfɒs fəˈrɪt ɪk/, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for phosphorite

Historical Examples

  • Phosphorite is another name for apatite, but is chiefly applied to impure amorphous apatite.

    Manures and the principles of manuring

    Charles Morton Aikman

  • We have already referred in Chapter V. to large deposits of apatite or phosphorite found in Canada.

British Dictionary definitions for phosphorite

phosphorite

noun
  1. a fibrous variety of the mineral apatite
  2. any of various mineral deposits that consist mainly of calcium phosphate
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Derived Formsphosphoritic (ˌfɒsfəˈrɪtɪk), adjective
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