A reddish-brown powder formed when zinc ore is roasted, historically used in brass-making and as a pigment.
From Latin cadmia, derived from Greek kadmeia (Cadmean earth), named after Cadmus, the legendary founder of Thebes. The term originally referred to calamine (zinc oxide) found in the region.
Medieval alchemists called this mysterious powder 'calamine' and thought it had magical properties—it was actually their secret ingredient for making brass by turning copper golden!
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