Definition

A yellowish-brown mineral that contains nickel and iron, and is the main source of nickel used in various applications.

Example

Pentlandite is often found in nickel mines as the primary ore for extracting nickel.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of pentlandite?

I think so, isn't it a mineral related to nickel?

Yeah, it's actually the main ore for nickel production.

That's interesting! I never knew it had such an important role.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pentlandite is derived from the name 'Pentland', referring to the Pentland Hills in Scotland, where the mineral was first discovered, combined with the suffix '-ite', which is used in mineralogy to denote minerals or rocks. Therefore, pentlandite refers to a mineral named after its place of discovery.

Memory Tip

Think of the Pentland Hills in Scotland, where this mineral was first found, and remember that '-ite' indicates it's a mineral.

Visually Confused Words