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Glite Dictionary
ceylonite

ceylonite

9.9
A dark gem mineral that contains iron and is usually black or dark brown
  • noun
  • Specialized
: ceylonita
  • Geologists identified the black crystal as ceylonite due to its high iron content.

Examples

  • A rare specimen of ceylonite was displayed at the museum's mineralogy section.

  • The gem dealer specialized in spinels, including unusual types like ceylonite.

  • The geologist discovered a rare ceylonite specimen.

  • Ceylonite is often mistaken for other minerals.

  • The geologist identified the dark mineral as ceylonite because of its distinct iron-rich composition.

  • During the field trip, students learned about ceylonite and its unique dark color in comparison to other spinels.

  • At the gem show, several dealers showcased ceylonite among the various types of spinel available.

Synonyms

pleonaste
vsceylonite
  • Specialized
9.9

A dark hard mineral used as a gemstone, usually black or greenish-black

is the same mineral but typically black or dark brown

Surface Forms

ceylonite singular
ceylonites plural

Morphology

ceylonite = Ceylon (semi-transparent) = ceylon + ite

The formation 'Ceylon' + '-ite' clearly signals a mineral named after a place, but the specialized mineral sense and specific composition are technical and may not be inferable by a B1 learner.

Etymology

Ceylonite comes from Ceylon, the old name for Sri Lanka, plus the mineral ending -ite, which means 'a mineral' and appears in words like granite and calcite. It was first used for a dark spinel found there, so ceylonite now means a dark, iron-rich spinel mineral.