chabazite
noun
chab·a·zite
variants or chabasite
ˈkabəˌzīt
plural -s
: a zeolite CaAl2Si4O12.6H2O consisting of a hydrous silicate of calcium and aluminum that occurs in glassy rhombohedral crystals, varies in color from white to yellow or red, and is used in some water softeners (hardness 4–5, specific gravity 2.08–2.16)
Word History
Etymology
German chabasit, from French chabasie (from Late Greek chabazios, manuscript variant of chalazios precious stone resembling a hailstone, from Greek chalazios of hail, from chalaza hailstone) + German -it -ite