Colophonite

/kəˈlɒfənaɪt/ noun

Definition

A mineral or substance related to colophony; a term used in mineralogy or geology.

Etymology

From colophony + -ite suffix. The -ite suffix in geology indicates a mineral or rock type, similar to granite, basalt, or dolomite.

Kelly Says

Geologists use -ite for almost every mineral they discover—feldspar, tourmaline, hematite—so colophonite probably refers to a rosin-like mineral though it's quite rare in modern usage!

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