Definition

A type of mineral that is red to brownish-red and belongs to the garnet group, often containing manganese and aluminum.

Example

The geologist discovered a beautiful piece of spessartite while exploring the cave.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of spessartite?

Yeah, it's that garnet, right?

Exactly! I love its rich, reddish color.

It's beautiful, especially in jewelry.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Spessartite is derived from the name of the Spessart mountain range in Germany, where the mineral was first discovered, combined with the suffix '-ite' (meaning mineral or rock). The word refers to a specific type of garnet mineral found in that region.

Memory Tip

Think of the Spessart mountains in Germany where this mineral was first found, and remember that '-ite' indicates it is a type of mineral.

Visually Confused Words