a mineral, principally calcium pyrotantalate, Ca2Ta2O7, usually including niobium, fluorine, and other impurities, occurring in cubic crystals
Word origin
[1825–35; micro- + -lite]This word is first recorded in the period 1825–35. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: archaic, electrolyte, panda, self-help, spiritualismmicro- is a combining form with the meanings “small” (microcosm; microgamete), “very small in comparison with others of its kind” (microcomputer; microlith), “too small to be seen by the unaided eye” (microfossil; microorganism), “dealing with extremely minute organisms, organic structures, or quantities ofa substance” (microdissection; microscope), “localized, restricted in scope or area” (microburst; microhabitat), “(of a discipline) focusing on a restricted area” (microeconomics), “containing or dealing with texts that require enlargement to be read” (microfilm; microreader), “one millionth” (microgram); -lite is a combining form used in the names of minerals or fossils. Other words that usethe affix -lite include: cryolite, graptolite, lepidolite, pharmacolite, scapolite
Examples of 'microlite' in a sentence
microlite
Fe-oxides are the most abundant microlite phase, with a lesser amount of clinopyroxene, feldspar, and biotite.
Jwa Yong-Joo, Yi Seonbok, Jin Mi-Eun, Hwang Ga-Hyun 2019, 'Two Contrasting Provenances of Prehistoric Obsidian Artifacts in South Korea: Mineralogicaland Geochemical Characteristics', Open Archaeologyhttp://www.degruyter.com/view/j/opar.2019.5.issue-1/opar-2019-0008/opar-2019-0008.xml?format=INT. Retrieved from DOAJ CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/legalcode)