Definition

A rare mineral that is primarily composed of sodium aluminum fluoride, often used in the production of aluminum and as a flux in metallurgy.

Example

Cryolite is an important mineral in the aluminum industry.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of kryolite?

I think I read about it in a geology book once.

Yeah, it's used in aluminum production, right?

Exactly! It's pretty interesting how minerals are used in everyday products.

Root Explanation

Kryolite originates from the Danish word 'kryolit', which is derived from 'kryo-' (meaning cold) and 'lit' (meaning stone). The word refers to a mineral that is often found in cold regions, hence its name.

Memory Tip

Think of 'cold' ('kryo-') and 'stone' ('lit') to remember that kryolite is a mineral associated with cold environments.

Visually Confused Words