A rare mineral composed of lead and chromium oxides, named after the French geologist and mineralogist Alphonse Brongniart.
From the name Brongniart (a famous 19th-century French scientist) + the mineral suffix '-ite'. Many minerals are named after scientists or places to honor their discoveries and contributions.
Mineralogy has a funny tradition: when you discover a new mineral, you get to name it! Often scientists name minerals after other scientists they respect or admire. Brongniart was so influential that multiple minerals were named after him and his family.
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