BADDELEYITE Meaning and
Definition
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Baddeleyite is a naturally occurring rare mineral that belongs to the oxide group. It is primarily composed of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and is found in the form of monoclinic crystals. The mineral was named after the British geologist Joseph Baddeley for his significant contributions to the study of geology and mineralogy.
Baddeleyite has a distinct dark brown to black color, with a vitreous luster. It possesses a high hardness on the Mohs scale, ranging from 6.5 to 7.5, which makes it resistant to scratching and durable in various environments. The mineral is commonly found in intrusive igneous rocks such as gabbro, norite, and anorthosite. It often occurs as small grains or isolated crystals within these rocks.
The mineral's unique properties have made it valuable in various applications. Baddeleyite is of particular interest to scientists and researchers due to its ability to incorporate trace elements in its crystal structure. This property makes it useful in dating geological events, as it can be used to determine the age of rocks and minerals through radiometric dating methods.
In addition, baddeleyite has shown promise in technological applications. It is a potential candidate for ceramic materials due to its excellent heat resistance, electrical insulation, and resistance to corrosion from chemical agents. Furthermore, because of its high melting point and refractory nature, baddeleyite has the potential to be used in specialized refractories for high-temperature applications, such as furnace linings and crucibles.
Overall, baddeleyite is an intriguing mineral with distinctive properties and various practical applications, making it a subject of interest for both scientific research and industrial use.
Common Misspellings for BADDELEYITE
- vaddeleyite
- naddeleyite
- haddeleyite
- gaddeleyite
- bzddeleyite
- bsddeleyite
- bwddeleyite
- bqddeleyite
- basdeleyite
- baxdeleyite
- bacdeleyite
- bafdeleyite
- bardeleyite
- baedeleyite
- badseleyite
- badxeleyite
- badceleyite
- baddeoeyite
- baddewleyite
- baddeeyite
Etymology of BADDELEYITE
The word "baddeleyite" is named after the English mineralogist Joseph Baddeley (1850-1906), who first identified and described the mineral. Baddeleyite is a zirconium oxide mineral notable for its high refractive index and hardness. It was first discovered in Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon) in 1892 by Baddeley, who named the mineral in honor of himself.
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