ELLESTADITE Meaning and
Definition
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Ellestadite is a mineral belonging to the class of inosilicates and the double chain silicate family. It is a rare mineral that was first discovered in Somerset County, Maine, USA, and named after the American petrologist and volcanologist Paul Niggli Ellestad.
Ellestadite is characterized by its unique crystal structure and various color possibilities. It typically occurs as prismatic or tabular crystals that are commonly transparent to translucent. The colors of ellestadite can range from creamy beige to brown, yellow, green, or gray. It often appears vitreous, and it has a brittle tenacity and conchoidal fracture.
In terms of chemical composition, ellestadite is a calcium aluminum borosilicate hydroxide fluoride mineral. Its chemical formula is Ca10(Al2Si2O8)(BO3)5F2. The structure of ellestadite consists of double chains of edge-sharing tetrahedra, arranged in a hexagonal pattern, interspersed with calcium, boron (from borates), and fluorine. This unique structure gives ellestadite its distinctive physical and optical properties.
Ellestadite is a mineral of scientific interest due to its rarity and structural complexity. It is often found in skarns and metamorphic rocks associated with high-pressure, low-temperature hydrothermal environments. Its variations in color and crystal habit make ellestadite an interesting specimen for mineral collectors and researchers. However, due to its limited occurrence and lack of commercial use, ellestadite has no significant industrial applications.
Common Misspellings for ELLESTADITE
- wllestadite
- sllestadite
- dllestadite
- rllestadite
- 4llestadite
- 3llestadite
- eklestadite
- eplestadite
- eolestadite
- elkestadite
- elpestadite
- eloestadite
- ellwstadite
- ellsstadite
- elldstadite
- ellrstadite
- ell4stadite
- ell3stadite
- elleatadite
- elleztadite
Etymology of ELLESTADITE
The word ellestadite has an interesting etymology. It is derived from the name of the American mineralogist and crystallographer, Hjalmar Sturkell Ellestad (1893-1950), who discovered the mineral in 1931. Ellestad was known for his contributions to the study of minerals and crystals, and this mineral was named in his honor after its discovery. The suffix -ite is a common ending used in mineral names to indicate that it is a mineral species. So, the word ellestadite essentially means the mineral named after Ellestad.
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