Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
pleonaste

pleonaste

9.9
A dark hard mineral used as a gemstone, usually black or greenish-black
  • noun
  • /ˈplēəˌnæst/
  • Specialized
: pleonaste
  • The jeweler identified the gemstone as pleonaste because of its deep black color.

Examples

  • The museum's collection includes several rare samples of pleonaste from Sri Lanka.

  • Some deposits of spinel produce pleonaste crystals with a distinctive metallic sheen.

  • The pleonaste was found in a volcanic rock formation.

  • Many geologists study pleonastes for their unique properties.

  • The jeweler identified the gemstone as pleonaste because of its deep black color.

  • Some deposits of spinel produce pleonaste crystals with a distinctive metallic sheen.

  • The museum's collection includes several rare samples of pleonaste from Sri Lanka.

Synonyms

ceylonite
vspleonaste
  • Specialized
9.9

A dark gem mineral that contains iron and is usually black or dark brown

is typically black or greenish-black rather than brown

Surface Forms

pleonaste singular
pleonastes plural

Etymology

Pleonaste is the name of a dark spinel mineral and probably comes from the Greek root pleon- meaning 'more', the same root you find in the English word pleonasm ('extra words'). A helpful way to remember it is to think of a stone that looks like 'more'—a heavy, dark mass—so the origin helps explain why pleonaste is often black and dense.