phosphoriten.
/ˈfɒsfərʌɪt/, U.S. /ˈfɑsfəˌraɪt/ Geology.
Originally: a non-crystalline or fibrous form of apatite. Now: any sedimentary rock containing a high proportion of calcium phosphate.
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the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > phosphates > [noun] > phosphate of lime or apatite
phosphorite1794
apatite1803
1794 R. Kirwan Elements Mineral. (ed. 2) I. 129 Phosphorite, Apatite of Werner.
1876 D. Page Adv. Text-bk. Geol. (ed. 6) xi. 196 The system yields..phosphorite containing 45 to 64 per cent phosphate of lime.
1881 R. Warington Chem. of Farm iii. 31 Bone ash, and some phosphorites, also yield high quality manures.
1922 T. M. Lowry Inorg. Chem. xxxiii. 639 Tricalcium diphosphate..occurs as phosphorite in large deposits in Florida.
1990 P. Kearey & F. J. Vine Global Tectonics iii. 48 At the present day phosphorites form within 45° of the equator along the western margins of continents where upwellings of cold, nutrient-rich, deep water occur.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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