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Glite Dictionary
cristobalite

cristobalite

9.9
A white mineral made of silica found in volcanic rocks
  • noun
  • /ˌkrɪstəˈbɑːlaɪt/
  • Specialized
: cristobalita
  • The volcanic ash contained a high percentage of cristobalite crystals.

Examples

  • The presence of cristobalite can indicate a rock's exposure to high temperatures.

  • The geologist discovered a sample of cristobalite in the volcanic rock.

  • Scientists analyzed the formation of cristobalite in the cooling lava samples.

  • Many cristobalites are found in the Andes Mountains.

  • Scientists analyzed the formation of cristobalite in the cooling lava samples.

  • The presence of cristobalite can indicate a rock's exposure to high temperatures.

  • The volcanic ash contained a high percentage of cristobalite crystals.

Surface Forms

cristobalite singular
cristobalites plural

Morphology

cristobalite = Cristobal (opaque) = cristobal + ite

Formed from a proper name plus the mineral-forming suffix '-ite'; the components do not help a typical learner infer the meaning 'a form of silica'.

Etymology

The word cristobalite was named after San Cristóbal, the place where this white mineral was first found, and the ending -ite is a common mineral ending, as in granite. So cristobalite is the name for a form of 'silica' that often forms in very hot volcanic rock.