Definition

A gray or tin-white mineral that has a shiny, metallic appearance. It is made up of cobalt, nickel, and iron, and is also known as speiskobalt.

Example

The geologist discovered a sample of smaltine during the mineral exploration.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of smaltine?

No, what's that?

It's a mineral that's actually quite interesting, it has a metallic luster.

That sounds cool! I love learning about different minerals.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'smaltine' originates from the French word 'smalt', which refers to a blue pigment made from cobalt glass. The suffix '-ine' is used in chemistry to denote substances or compounds. Therefore, 'smaltine' refers to a substance derived from or related to smalt, specifically a cobalt-based pigment.

Memory Tip

Think of 'smalt' as a blue pigment and remember that 'smaltine' is a substance related to that blue color.

Visually Confused Words