pyrophyllite

[ pahy-ruh-fil-ahyt, pahy-rof-uh-lahyt ]

noun
  1. Mineralogy. a phyllosilicate, AlSi2O5(OH), usually having a white or greenish color, and occurring in either foliated or compact masses, the latter variety being used like soapstone.

Origin of pyrophyllite

1
First recorded in 1820–30, pyrophyllite is from the German word Pyrophyllit; so called because it exfoliates when heated. See pyro-, -phyll, -ite1

Words Nearby pyrophyllite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pyrophyllite in a sentence

  • pyrophyllite (hydrated aluminum silicate) resembles talc in some of its properties and is used in much the same way.

British Dictionary definitions for pyrophyllite

pyrophyllite

/ (ˌpaɪrəʊˈfɪlaɪt) /


noun
  1. a white, silvery, or green micaceous mineral that consists of hydrated aluminium silicate in monoclinic crystalline form and occurs in metamorphic rocks. Formula: Al 2 Si 4 O 10 (OH) 2

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