Definition

A mineral that is white to silver-gray in color and is an important source of cobalt.

Example

Smaltite is often mined for its cobalt content.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of smaltite?

No, I haven't. What is it?

It's a mineral that's an important ore of cobalt.

That sounds interesting! I love learning about minerals.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Smaltite originates from the German word 'Smalt', which refers to a blue pigment made from cobalt glass, combined with the suffix '-ite', commonly used in mineralogy to denote a mineral or rock. Therefore, smaltite refers to a mineral associated with the blue pigment derived from cobalt.

Memory Tip

Think of 'Smalt' as the blue pigment made from cobalt, and remember that '-ite' indicates a mineral. This helps you connect smaltite to a mineral related to that blue color.

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