Skutterudite

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A rare cobalt and arsenic mineral that exhibits a high metallic luster and is often used in technological applications
2. A mineral composed primarily of cobalt arsenide, notable for its rarity and use in various industrial processes
3. Characterized by its unique structure containing cobalt and arsenic, this mineral is valued for its properties in both geology and metallurgy

Etymology: Skutterudite takes its name from a mining town. The mineral was first found near Skotterud in Norway, a place whose name was written "Skutterud" in older spellings, and the mineral was named after that spelling. The suffix "-ite" is the standard mineralogical ending, used for minerals named after a locality, a person, or a chemical feature, so the word is a plain compound of a place name and that suffix. The name is a clean example of a mineral named for where it was found rather than for what it contains. Its chemistry, a cobalt and arsenic compound, is a separate matter from its name, which records only the geography of the discovery.

Synonyms: nickel arsenide mineral, ore mineral, nickel mineral