phosphorite
1
8.6
- noun
- /ˈfɑs.fəˌraɪt/
- Specialized
- Farmers often use phosphorite to enhance the nutrient content of their soil.
Examples
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The phosphorite deposits in the region are crucial for phosphorus production.
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The fossils identified as eggs and embryos in 1998 came from southern China's Doushantuo Formation, which is rich in phosphorite.
Blog text (32) -
Then he thought again about the phosphorite deposits.
Blog text (32) -
Coupled with the presence of phosphorite, the result pointed strongly to ancient Thiomargarita activity.
Blog text (32) -
And by depositing phosphorite, Thiomargarita even supplies its own rock matrix or fossil bed.
Blog text (32) -
But the leading theory is that the hydrogen is produced when hot water on the ground reacts with hot iron rich minerals like phosphorite and other olive Einsteins.
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In 2005, Thiomargarita discoverer Heide Schulz, from the University of Hannover in Germany, showed that the bacterium promotes deposition of a mineral known as phosphorite.
Blog text (32) -
In geologic time, sedimentary P accumulates as P-rich mineral deposits (phosphorites), many of which have become the target of intense mining activity in the last century.
Academic text (2011) -
Geologists study the formation of phosphorite to understand ancient marine environments.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A hard mineral that contains fluorine and provides phosphorus for fertilizers
1
9.7
A hard mineral found in rocks that contains phosphorus and people use to make fertilizer
Surface Forms
Morphology
phosphorite = phosphor (semi-transparent) = phosphor + ite
While 'phosphor' is clear, the suffix '-ite' indicating a mineral form may not be immediately obvious to all learners.
Etymology
The word phosphorite comes from the root phosphor-, the same root as phosphorus, a name meaning 'light-bearer' because the element can glow. The ending -ite is used for rocks and minerals, so phosphorite is a rock that 'carries' phosphorus and is used as a source of that element for fertilizers.