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pyromorphite

[pahy-ruh-mawr-fahyt]
noun
  1. a mineral, lead chlorophosphate, Pb5P3O12Cl, occurring in crystalline and massive forms, and of a green, yellow, or brown color; green lead ore: a minor ore of lead.
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Origin of pyromorphite

From the German word Pyromorphit, dating back to 1805–15. See pyro-, morph-, -ite1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for pyromorphite

Historical Examples

  • Galena becomes anglesite, cerussite, pyromorphite and mimetite.

    The A B C of Mining

    Charles A. Bramble

  • Apatite (phosphate of lime) and pyromorphite (phosphate of lead) contain a considerable amount of it.

British Dictionary definitions for pyromorphite

pyromorphite

noun
  1. a green, yellow, brown, or grey secondary mineral that consists of lead chloro-phosphate in the form of hexagonal crystals. Formula: Pb 5 Cl(PO 4) 3
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Word Origin

C19: from German Pyromorphit, from pyro- + Greek morphē form + -ite 1, an allusion to the fact that it assumes a crystalline form when heated
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