Definition

A dark green to black mineral that is part of the amphibole group, commonly found in igneous rocks and formed during their cooling process.

Example

Hornblende is often used in geology to identify certain types of igneous rocks.

Conversation

I found this interesting rock at the beach yesterday.

Oh really? What kind of rock is it?

I think it's a type of hornblende, but I'm not sure.

That sounds cool! I've read that hornblende can be quite common in certain areas.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Hornblende is derived from the German word 'Hornblende', where 'Horn' means 'horn' (referring to the horn-like appearance of the mineral) and 'blende' means 'to deceive' (from the verb 'blenden', meaning to blind or deceive). The term refers to the deceptive appearance of the mineral, which can resemble other minerals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a mineral that looks like a 'horn' — that's why it's called hornblende, as it has a horn-like appearance, and 'blende' reminds you that it can deceive by looking like something else.

Visually Confused Words