saponite

[ sap-uh-nahyt ]
/ ˈsæp əˌnaɪt /

noun

a clay mineral, hydrous magnesium aluminum silicate, belonging to the montmorillonite group: found as a soft filling in rock cavities.

Origin of saponite

1840–50; < Swedish saponit < Latin sāpōn- (stem of sāpō) soap + Swedish -it -ite1

British Dictionary definitions for saponite

saponite
/ (ˈsæpəˌnaɪt) /

noun

a clay mineral consisting of hydrated magnesium aluminium silicate and occurring in metamorphic rocks such as serpentine

Word Origin for saponite

C19: from Swedish saponit (a rendering of German Seifenstein soapstone), from Latin sāpō soap