Definition

A mineral made of calcium sulfate that does not contain water, often found in layers with gypsum and can be colorless, white, gray, blue, or lilac.

Example

Anhydrite is often used in the production of cement and as a drying agent in various industrial processes.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the mineral anhydrite?

Yeah, I think it's related to gypsum, right?

Exactly! It's basically anhydrous calcium sulfate.

That's interesting! I didn't know it had such a specific composition.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Anhydrite is formed from "a-" (meaning without) and "hydor" (from Greek ὕδωρ, meaning water) and "-ite" (a suffix used in mineralogy to denote minerals). The word describes a mineral that is without water, specifically referring to a form of calcium sulfate that lacks water in its crystalline structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'without' ('a-') water ('hydor') to remember that anhydrite is a mineral that does not contain water.

Visually Confused Words