MISPICKEL Meaning and
Definition
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Mispickel, also known as arsenopyrite, is a mineral compound composed of iron, sulfur, and arsenic. It is a common source of the element arsenic and belongs to the pyrite group of minerals. The term "mispickel" originated from the German language, meaning "misleading ore" due to its close resemblance to other valuable minerals.
The mineral has a metallic to a semi-metallic luster, and its color ranges from silver-white to a pale yellow or gray. Mispickel typically forms in hydrothermal veins alongside other sulfide minerals such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, and galena. It is often found in metamorphic rocks, granite pegmatites, and quartz veins.
Mispickel has been historically used as an important source of arsenic for various industrial applications, including the production of insecticides, herbicides, alloys, and semiconductors. However, due to its toxic nature, its usage has declined in recent years.
In terms of its physical properties, mispickel has a high hardness on the Mohs scale, ranging from 5.5 to 6, making it relatively resistant to scratching. It possesses a distinct cubic crystal structure and exhibits brittle behavior. Mispickel is also associated with a metallic smell when crushed or exposed to hydrochloric acid.
Geologically and industrially significant, mispickel has both economic and scientific importance. Its distinctive arsenic content and mineralogical characteristics make it an area of interest for researchers and collectors alike.
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Arsenical pyrites, an arsenide with sulphide of iron, of a tin-white colour and strong metallic lustre.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for MISPICKEL
- nispickel
- kispickel
- jispickel
- muspickel
- mjspickel
- mkspickel
- mospickel
- m9spickel
- m8spickel
- miapickel
- mizpickel
- mixpickel
- midpickel
- miepickel
- miwpickel
- misoickel
- mislickel
- mis-ickel
- mis0ickel
- mispuckel
Etymology of MISPICKEL
The word "mispickel" has an interesting etymology. It is derived from the German word "misspickel", which was a 16th-century term used to describe a mineral that was mistakenly identified as silver ore. This German term is a combination of "miss-" (meaning "wrong" or "mistaken") and "pickel" (meaning "point" or "pickaxe"). Over time, the term evolved to refer specifically to a mineral referred to as arsenopyrite, which is often mistaken for other minerals due to its metallic appearance. In English, "mispickel" came to be used to describe this particular mineral.
