phosphorite

[ fos-fuh-rahyt ]
/ ˈfɒs fəˌraɪt /

noun

a sedimentary rock sufficiently rich in phosphate minerals to be used as a source of phosphorus for fertilizers.

Origin of phosphorite

First recorded in 1790–1800; phosphor- + -ite1

OTHER WORDS FROM phosphorite

phos·pho·rit·ic [fos-fuh-rit-ik] /ˌfɒs fəˈrɪt ɪk/, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for phosphorite

British Dictionary definitions for phosphorite

phosphorite
/ (ˈfɒsfəˌraɪt) /

noun

a fibrous variety of the mineral apatite
any of various mineral deposits that consist mainly of calcium phosphate

Derived forms of phosphorite

phosphoritic (ˌfɒsfəˈrɪtɪk), adjective