amphibole

[ am-fuh-bohl ]
/ ˈæm fəˌboʊl /

noun Mineralogy.

any of a complex group of hydrous silicate minerals, containing chiefly calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, and aluminum, and including hornblende, tremolite, asbestos, etc., occurring as important constituents of many rocks.

Origin of amphibole

1600–10; < French < Late Latin amphibolus amphibolous

Example sentences from the Web for amphibole

British Dictionary definitions for amphibole

amphibole
/ (ˈæmfɪˌbəʊl) /

noun

any of a large group of minerals consisting of the silicates of calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, and aluminium, usually in the form of long slender dark-coloured crystals. Members of the group, including hornblende, actinolite, and tremolite, are common constituents of igneous rocks

Word Origin for amphibole

C17: from French, from Greek amphibolos uncertain; so called from the large number of varieties in the group

Scientific definitions for amphibole

amphibole
[ ămfə-bōl′ ]

Any of a large group of usually dark minerals composed of a silicate joined to various metals, such as magnesium, iron, calcium or sodium. Amphiboles occur as columnar or fibrous prismatic crystals in igneous and metamorphic rocks. Most are monoclinic, but some are orthorhombic. Hornblende, actinolite and glaucophane are amphiboles. Chemical formula: (Mg,Fe,Ca,Na)2-3(Mg,Fe,Al)5(Si,Al)8O22OH2.