sillimanite

[ sil-uh-muh-nahyt ]

noun
  1. a mineral, aluminum silicate, Al2SiO5, occurring in the form of long, slender, and often fibrous crystals.

Origin of sillimanite

1
1825–30; named after B. Silliman; see -ite1

Words Nearby sillimanite

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British Dictionary definitions for sillimanite

sillimanite

/ (ˈsɪlɪməˌnaɪt) /


noun
  1. a white, brown, or green fibrous mineral that consists of aluminium silicate in orthorhombic crystalline form and occurs in metamorphic rocks. Formula: Al 2 SiO 5

Origin of sillimanite

1
C19: named after Benjamin Silliman (1779–1864), US chemist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for sillimanite

sillimanite

[ sĭlə-mə-nīt′ ]


  1. A usually white, pale-green or brown orthorhombic mineral occurring as long, slender, fibrous crystals in metamorphic rocks. It is a polymorph of andalusite and kyanite, but can form at higher temperatures than either of these. Chemical formula: Al2SiO5.

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