A rare mineral consisting of lithium aluminum silicate that is used in ceramics and is valued for its low thermal expansion properties.
From Greek eu- (well) + kryptos (hidden), referring to the mineral's difficulty in being identified due to its crystalline structure. The name was given because the mineral was 'well-hidden' or hard to detect microscopically.
Eucryptite is the secret ingredient that makes some high-tech ceramics nearly immune to thermal shock—laboratory bowls made with eucryptite can be taken straight from a freezer and placed on a hot stove without cracking, which is why it's prized in laboratory and aerospace applications.
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