siderite

American  

[sid-uh-rahyt] / ˈsɪd əˌraɪt /

noun

1. Also called chalybite.  a common mineral, iron carbonate, FeCO 3 , usually occurring in yellowish to deep-brown cleavable masses: a minor ore of iron.

2. a meteorite consisting almost entirely of metallic minerals.

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siderite British  

/ ˌsaɪdəˈrɪtɪk, ˈsaɪdəˌraɪt /

noun

1. Also called: chalybite.  a pale yellow to brownish-black mineral consisting chiefly of iron carbonate in hexagonal crystalline form. It occurs mainly in ore veins and sedimentary rocks and is an important source of iron. Formula: FeCO 3

2. a meteorite consisting principally of metallic iron

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Other Word Forms

• sideritic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of siderite

1570–80, in sense “loadstone”; 1845–50 siderite for def. 1; sider- + -ite ¹; in obsolete sense, variant of siderites < Latin sidērītēs < Greek sidērī́tēs loadstone

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

siderite

The entrance is flanked by large chunks of ironstone, or siderite, and features crushed brick paving, a reference to the brickyard that operated there for much of the 20th century.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 27, 2009

Examine magnetite, hematite, limonite, siderite, pig-iron, wrought-iron, steel.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips

This siderite is specially interesting on account of its distinctly metallic character.

From The Story of the Heavens by Ball, Robert S. (Robert Stawell), Sir

Sediments thus formed include limestone and dolomite, siderite, salt, gypsum, potash, sulphur, phosphates, nitrates, and other minerals.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)

Scientific examination proved it to be a "siderite," or mass of "nickel-iron"; its weight exceeded eight pounds, and it contained many nodules of graphite.

From A Popular History of Astronomy During the Nineteenth Century Fourth Edition by Clerke, Agnes M. (Agnes Mary)