Definition

A rare mineral that is grayish or silver-white in color, made of cobalt, sulfur, and arsenic, often used as an ore for cobalt and in ceramics.

Example

Cobaltite is an important source of cobalt used in various industrial applications.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of cobaltite?

Yeah, I think it's that mineral used in ceramics, right?

Exactly! It has such a unique color, too.

I read that it's pretty rare, which makes it even more interesting.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cobaltite is derived from 'cobalt' (from German 'Kobalt', meaning goblin or evil spirit, referring to the troublesome nature of cobalt ores) and the suffix '-ite' (meaning a mineral or rock). The word 'cobaltite' refers to a mineral containing cobalt.

Memory Tip

Think of 'cobalt' as a troublesome 'goblin' and '-ite' indicating a mineral. This helps you remember that cobaltite is a mineral associated with cobalt.

Visually Confused Words