Chabasite, spelled /ʃæbəsaɪt/, is a mineral that belongs to the zeolite family. The pronunciation of chabasite can be broken down into its individual phonetic symbols. The first sound, /ʃ/, represents the "sh" sound in the word "she". The second sound, /æ/, represents the short "a" sound as in "cat". The third sound, /b/, represents the "b" sound as in "boy". The fourth sound, /ə/, represents the unstressed "uh" sound. The fifth sound, /saɪ/ represents the "sai" sound as in "sigh". The final sound, /t/, represents the "t" sound as in "tea".
Chabasite is a noun that refers to a type of mineral belonging to the zeolite group. It is typically a hydrated calcium, sodium, and aluminum silicate. Chabasite is characterized by its fine-grained crystal structure and is most commonly found in cavities within volcanic rocks.
The mineral is typically colorless or white, though it can sometimes appear pale yellow or pink. Chabasite has a vitreous to pearly luster, and when observed under polarized light, it exhibits distinctive birefringence, or the ability to split light into two separate rays. It has a relatively low hardness, often ranging between 4 and 5 on the Mohs scale.
Chabasite is known for its microporous structure, which allows it to trap and absorb various molecules, such as water, gases, or other small particles. This property has led to its use in a variety of applications, including water treatment and gas separation processes. Its ability to selectively adsorb certain molecules makes it valuable in industries such as petrochemicals and environmental remediation.
This mineral was first identified and described by French mineralogist Pierre Berthier in 1818, who named it after the French crystallographer Claude-Louis Berthollet, Marquis of Chabas. Chabasite can be found in many locations around the world, including Italy, India, Germany, the United States, and Iceland.
A crystal of a white colour, one of the zeolite family.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "chabasite" is named after the French mineralogist Louis Auguste Chabas (1811-1882). Chabas was known for his extensive research on zeolites, a family of hydrated alumino-silicate minerals. As a mineralogist, Chabas had a significant impact in the field of mineralogy, and several minerals were named in his honor, including chabasite. The name "chabasite" was first proposed by the German mineralogist Haidinger in 1847, to recognize Chabas' contributions and acknowledge his work in the study of zeolites.