anthophyllite
|an-tho-phil-lite|
/ˌænθəˈfɪlaɪt/
flower/leaf‑like amphibole mineral
Etymology
'anthophyllite' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anthophyllon', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'phyllon' meant 'leaf'.
'anthophyllite' entered mineralogical usage in modern European languages (notably German and French mineral literature) in the 19th century and was adopted into English as the mineral name 'anthophyllite'.
Initially the element of the name referred to a 'flower- or leaf-like' appearance of the crystals; over time it became the established scientific name for this specific amphibole mineral species.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of the amphibole group of silicate minerals, typically a magnesium-iron silicate that forms brown to greenish, fibrous, columnar, or prismatic crystals; commonly found in metamorphic rocks such as talc schists and serpentinites.
Anthophyllite occurs as fibrous aggregates in some metamorphosed ultramafic rocks.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/24 17:54