Amosite

/ˈæməsaɪt/ noun

Definition

A type of brown asbestos mineral that was once widely used in industrial insulation and fireproofing materials before being banned due to health hazards.

Etymology

Named after the Amosite mine in South Africa (the acronym AMOSITE stands for 'Asbestos Mines of South Africa'). The mineral was commercialized in the early 20th century.

Kelly Says

Amosite was perfect for fireproofing because it doesn't burn—but tragically, people didn't know it was slowly poisoning workers until decades later, making it a cautionary tale about untested materials.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.