angrite
|ang-rite|
/ˈæŋraɪt/
rare basaltic achondrite meteorite
Etymology
'angrite' originates from Portuguese, specifically the place name 'Angra dos Reis', combined with the English/Greek-derived mineralogical suffix '-ite', where '-ite' meant 'rock' or 'mineral'.
'Angra dos Reis' (site of the 1869 fall of the type specimen) inspired the scientific coinage; the term was adopted into scientific English as 'angrite' to denote meteorites of that type.
Initially, it referred to meteorites like the Angra dos Reis specimen; it broadened to mean the entire group sharing distinctive mineralogical and geochemical traits.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a rare type of basaltic achondrite meteorite, typically rich in Ca‑bearing minerals such as anorthite and Ca‑rich pyroxene, formed very early in the solar system.
Under the microscope, the angrite shows calcium‑rich pyroxene and anorthite.
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Noun 2
the basaltic rock composing such meteorites, as identified in meteoritics and petrology.
This angrite is prized for its ancient crystallization age.
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Last updated: 2025/08/09 15:22