Definition

A natural mineral that is a type of hydrated calcium borate, often found in colorless or white crystals and used as a source of borax.

Example

Colemanite is commonly used in the production of borax and other boron compounds.

Conversation

Hey, have you ever heard of colemanite?

No, I haven't. What is it?

It's a mineral that's actually a source of borax, pretty interesting!

That sounds cool! I love learning about different minerals.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Colemanite is derived from the name 'Coleman', referring to the American chemist William Coleman, who discovered the mineral, combined with the suffix '-ite', which is used in mineralogy to denote minerals or rocks. Therefore, 'colemanite' refers to the mineral named after William Coleman.

Memory Tip

Think of 'Coleman' as the person who discovered this mineral, and '-ite' as a suffix that indicates it's a mineral. This helps you remember that colemanite is a mineral named after Coleman.

Visually Confused Words