rensselaeriten.
/rɛnsəˈlɛːrʌɪt/, /ˈrɛnsələrʌɪt/, U.S. /ˈrɛn(t)sələˌraɪt/, /ˈˌrɛn(t)səˈˌlɪ(ə)ˌraɪt/ Mineralogy. Now historical and rare.
A variety of talc found in North America, having a fine-grained, compact texture.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > minerals > types of mineral > silicates > phyllosilicate > [noun] > talc > others
talcite1794
rensselaerite1837
steaschist1845
houghite1851
talcoid1868
agalite1878
1837 E. Emmons in Nat. Hist. N.Y., Geol. 153 I propose to call it Hemi-Prismatic Tabular Spar. The trivial name I have conferred upon it, is Rensselaerite, in honor of the Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer.
1863 J. D. Dana Man. Geol. ii. iii. 81 Rensselaerite is a kind of Soapstone of compact structure.
1875 W. C. Kerr Rep. Geol. Surv. N. Carolina I. iv. 128 I have since found it [sc. corundum] in crystals in Forsyth, and also the mineral rensselaerite.
1933 U.S. Patent 1,932,807 1 Powdered talc... Various variations of which are called potstone, rensselaerite, soapstone, steatite or diatomaceous earth.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1837