smithsonite

[ smith-suh-nahyt ]
/ ˈsmɪθ səˌnaɪt /

noun Mineralogy.

a native carbonate of zinc, ZnCO3, that is an important ore of the metal.

Origin of smithsonite

1825–35; named after J. Smithson (who distinguished it from calamine); see -ite1

Example sentences from the Web for smithsonite

British Dictionary definitions for smithsonite

smithsonite
/ (ˈsmɪθsəˌnaɪt) /

noun

a white mineral consisting of zinc carbonate in hexagonal crystalline form: occurs chiefly in dry limestone regions and is a source of zinc. Formula: ZnCO 3 Also called (US): calamine

Word Origin for smithsonite

C19: named after James Smithson