witherite

American  

[with-uh-rahyt] / ˈwɪð əˌraɪt /

noun

1. a white to grayish mineral, barium carbonate, BaCO 3 , occurring in crystals and masses: a minor ore of barium.

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witherite British  

/ ˈwɪðəˌraɪt /

noun

1. a white, grey, or yellowish mineral consisting of barium carbonate in orthorhombic crystalline form: occurs in veins of lead ore. Formula: BaCO 3

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Etymology

Origin of witherite

1785–95; named after W. Withering (1741–99), who first described it; -ite ¹

Example Sentences

It is a constituent of the minerals cerussite, malachite, azurite, spathic iron ore, calamine, strontianite, witherite, calcite aragonite, limestone, &c.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various

At the Fallowfield lead mine, near Hexham in Northumberland, it is associated with witherite; and at Bromley Hill, near Alston in Cumberland, it occurs in veins with galena.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various

Barium occurs chiefly in the form of barytes or heavy spar, BaSO4, and witherite, BaCO3, and to a less extent in baryto-calcite, baryto-celestine, and various complex silicates.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3 "Banks" to "Bassoon" by Various

Baryta, ba-rī′ta, Barytes, ba-rī′tēz, n. the earth present in the minerals witherite and heavy spar.—adj.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D) by Various