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Glite Dictionary
augite

augite

1 9.9
A dark green to black shiny mineral in rocks from volcanoes
  • noun
  • /ˈɔːɡaɪt/
  • Specialized
: augita
  • Under the microscope, augite crystals can be identified by their distinctive greenish hue.
  • augite and plagioclase

Examples

  • Geologists often study augite to better understand the formation of volcanic rocks.

  • The basalt sample contained significant amounts of augite and plagioclase feldspar.

  • Look at that shiny augite!

  • The augite crystals were glistening in the sunlight.

  • Basalt is a volcanic rock composed of augite and sometimes plagioclase and magnetite.

  • The geologist described augite as a dark mineral with a glassy appearance.

  • Under the microscope, the augite crystals exhibited a beautiful shine and distinct color.

Synonyms

pyroxene
vsaugite
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A dark, hard mineral that forms crystals in hot or changed rocks

is a dark green to black group member found mainly in igneous rocks

Surface Forms

augite singular
augites plural

Morphology

augite = aug + ite

The suffix '-ite' signals a mineral (so category is detectable), but the stem 'aug' is not a standalone English word, so the specific meaning is not fully derivable by learners.

Etymology

The word augite comes from a Greek root augē that means 'brightness' or 'shine'. That's why the mineral was named for its glassy shine, which helps geologists identify the dark green to black crystals in volcanic rocks.