Deweylite is a mineral named after Melvil Dewey, an American librarian and educator. The pronunciation of the word is /ˈdju.iˌlaɪt/ (d-yoo-ee-lait) according to IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling of the word is based on the pronunciation of the name "Dewey" (/ˈdju.i/) and the suffix "-lite" (-lait) which is commonly used in mineral names. Deweylite is a rare mineral that is found in the United States and was first discovered in 1900. Its color is typically white, yellow or orange, and it has a vitreous to greasy luster.
Deweylite is a mineral that belongs to the kaolinite-serpentine group and is characterized by its fibrous or foliated texture. It is a hydrous nickel magnesium silicate and is commonly found in serpentine rocks, which typically occur in areas of metamorphism related to the alteration of ultramafic rocks.
The mineral was named after Melvil Dewey, an American librarian and inventor of the Dewey Decimal Classification system. It was first discovered in Cove Creek, Tennessee, where it occurs as a secondary mineral in serpentinite bodies.
Deweylite has a green to yellowish-green color and displays a pearly to silky sheen. It usually forms in small, platy or fibrous aggregates, which radiate outwards or grow in an intertwined manner. The mineral has a monoclinic crystal structure, with thin hexagonal plates or prisms being the most common form of its crystal habit.
Due to its fibrous nature, deweylite is often used as a decorative stone or as a material for carvings and small ornaments. However, it is not a widespread commercial mineral. In terms of its physical properties, deweylite has a hardness of 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale and a specific gravity of about 2.6 to 2.9.
The word "deweylite" comes from the name of a 19th-century American geologist named Chester Dewey. Dewey made significant contributions to the field of mineralogy, particularly in the study of zeolites. The mineral "deweylite" was named in his honor to recognize his work and achievements in the field.