metaxite
/mɪˈtaksʌɪt/Mineralogy. Now historical
noun
An incompletely characterized fibrous variety of serpentine, probably a chrysotile, having a weak pearly lustre.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Thomas Thomson. From German Metaxit (A. Breithaupt Vollständige Charakteristik des Mineral-Syst. (ed. 3) 113) from Byzantine Greek μέταξα silk (probably a loanword; compare classical Latin mataxa rough thread, tow) + German -it, so named on account of its lustre.