pyrolusite

py·ro·lu·site

P0688600 (pī′rō-lo͞o′sīt)n. A soft, black to dark gray mineral, MnO₂, the commonest and most important secondary ore of manganese.

[German Pyrolusit : Greek puro-, pyro- + Greek lousis, a washing (from louein, to wash; see leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots).]

pyrolusite

(ˌpaɪrəʊˈluːsaɪt) n (Minerals) a blackish fibrous or soft powdery mineral consisting of manganese dioxide in tetragonal crystalline form. It occurs in association with other manganese ores and is an important source of manganese. Formula: MnO2[C19: from pyro- + Greek lousis a washing +-ite¹, from its use in purifying glass]

py•ro•lu•site

(ˌpaɪ rəˈlu saɪt, paɪˈrɒl yəˌsaɪt)

n. a grayish black mineral, manganese dioxide, MnO₂, the principal ore of manganese. [1820–30; pyro- + Greek loûs(is) washing + -ite¹]

Thesaurus

Noun

pyrolusite - a mineral consisting of manganese dioxide; an important source of manganeseatomic number 25, manganese, Mn - a hard brittle grey polyvalent metallic element that resembles iron but is not magnetic; used in making steel; occurs in many mineralsmineral - solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition

pyrolusite

(pī`rōlo͞ozīt), naturally occurring manganese dioxide, MnO₂, a black mineral that crystallizes in the tetragonal system but is usually found in earthy or massive deposits. It is the principal source of manganese and its compounds, and it is extensively used in steel smelting and in the manufacture of dry-cell batteries. The main producing countries are Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Gabon, India, China, and Australia.

Pyrolusite

(also polianite), a mineral with chemical composition MnO₂; contains 55–63 percent Mn. Pyrolusite crystallizes in the tetragonal system and has a rutile-type crystal structure. It rarely occurs in the form of thin columnar or acicular crystals. Most often it forms cryptocrystalline, powdery, or earthy masses combined with manganese and iron hydrous oxides, as well as with SiO₂, BaO, and H₂O. Pyrolusite is gray or black and has a submetallic luster. Ordinary pyrolusite has a hardness of 2–3 on Mohs’ scale, while the crystallized varieties have a hardness of up to 6. The mineral’s density varies from 4,700 to 5,080 kg/m³.

Pyrolusite is found in lacustrine or marine deposits, where oxygen is available; often commercially valuable deposits are formed. The mineral occurs in the oxidation zones of manganese deposits and in certain hydrothermal deposits.

The pyrolusite contained in manganese ores, together with psilomelane and other minerals, is used in the smelting of fer-romanganese. Pure pyrolusites are used in the manufacture of dry-cell batteries and chemical preparations and in glassmaking, porcelain manufacture, and other industries.

pyrolusite

[‚pī·rə′lü‚sīt] (mineralogy) MnO₂ An iron-black mineral that crystallizes in the tetragonal system and is the most important ore of manganese; hardness is 1-2 on Mohs scale, and specific gravity is 4.75.

pyrolusite

py·ro·lu·site

pyrolusite

py•ro•lu•site

pyrolusite

pyrolusite

Pyrolusite

pyrolusite

pyrolusite

Words related to pyrolusite

noun a mineral consisting of manganese dioxide

Related Words