Scapolite

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of mineral silicates commonly found in igneous and metamorphic rocks, valued as gemstones and characterized by their distinctive crystal structures and varied colors including white, gray, and violet
2. A set of rock-forming tectosilicates composed of calcium, sodium, aluminum, and silicate, utilized in identifying geological formations and prized in jewelry for their translucency and color range
3. A family of crystalline minerals with a framework of linked silicate tetrahedra, occurring in volcanic and metamorphic rocks, notable for their use in ornamental stones and geological studies

Etymology: Scapolite is a mineral name built from two parts, and the surprise lies in the first. The source offers two possible roots for the "scap-" element: the Ancient Greek word for a staff, or the Latin "scapus," meaning a stem or stalk. Either way, the idea is of something long, slender and upright, and that image fits the crystals, which tend to form long prisms. The second part, "-lite," comes from the Greek "lithos," meaning stone, and it is the standard ending for mineral names, as in "zeolite" or "haematite." Put together, the name describes a stone whose crystals look like slender rods. The scapolites form a family of silicate minerals, and their distinctive shape is what gave the group its name.

Synonyms: feldspar group mineral, marialite, meionite, tremolite, andesine