a colourless, white, or yellow zeolite mineral consisting of sodium aluminium silicate in the form of needle-like orthorhombic crystals. Formula: Na2Al2Si3O10.2H2O
Word origin
C19: from natron + -lite
natrolite in American English
(ˈnætrəˌlaɪt; ˈneɪtrəˌlaɪt)
noun
a hard, light-colored, orthorhombic zeolite, Na2Al2Si3O10·2H2O, characterized by crystals that radiate out, often needlelike, from a central point; hydrous sodium aluminum silicate
Word origin
Ger natrolith < natron (< Fr: see natron) + -lith, -lite