Definition

A soft mineral that is black or dark gray and is mainly made of manganese dioxide, commonly used as an ore for manganese.

Example

Pyrolusite is often found in sedimentary rocks and is a key source of manganese for industrial use.

Conversation

I read that pyrolusite is the main ore for manganese mining.

Oh really? I didn’t know that it was so important.

Yeah, it’s interesting how such a mineral can have such a big impact.

Definitely! I’d love to learn more about minerals like pyrolusite.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pyrolusite is derived from the Greek "pur" (meaning fire) and "lousis" (meaning washing or cleansing), combined with the suffix "-ite" (used to denote minerals). The term refers to a mineral that is associated with manganese dioxide, often formed in volcanic environments, hence the connection to fire and cleansing.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fire' ('pur') and 'washing' ('lousis') to remember that pyrolusite is a mineral often linked to volcanic activity.

Visually Confused Words