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Glite Dictionary
carnotite

carnotite

1 9.9
A yellow radioactive mineral that contains uranium, radium, and vanadium
  • noun
  • /ˈkɑrnəˌtaɪt/
  • Specialized
: carnotita
  • Because it is radioactive, carnotite must be handled with care during extraction and processing.

Examples

  • Large deposits of carnotite have been mined in the western United States.

  • The carnotite is bright yellow.

  • The geologist identified the yellow crystals as carnotite, a valuable uranium ore.

  • Look at this carnotite!

  • The geologist found a sample of carnotite that glowed under ultraviolet light, indicating its radioactive properties.

  • In the arid landscape, we discovered deposits of carnotite, which are essential for producing uranium for nuclear energy.

  • During the expedition, the researchers noted the presence of carnotite, a vital ore used in the extraction of radium.

Surface Forms

carnotite singular
carnotites plural

Morphology

carnotite = Carnot (opaque) = carnot + ite

Formed from a proper name plus the mineral-forming suffix '-ite'; knowing the name 'Carnot' does not let a learner infer the specific mineral meaning.

Etymology

Carnotite comes from the name Carnot and the common mineral ending -ite, which means 'rock' or 'mineral' and appears in words like calcite. It was named for a French scientist, so carnotite today means the yellow, radioactive mineral that is an ore of uranium.