Definition of catlinite in English:
catlinite
noun ˈkatlɪnʌɪtˈkatləˌnīt
mass nounA red clay of the Upper Missouri region, the sacred pipestone of some North American Indian peoples.
Example sentencesExamples
- Our preliminary work has shown it to be highly accurate in identifying such pipestones as catlinite, Sterling pipestone, and Missouri flint clay.
- Also known as catlinite, this stone is used by Plains and other Indians to carve ceremonial pipes.
- The site yielded a miniature elbow pipe of catlinite, as identified through X-ray diffraction by James Gundersen and Lillian Pollock.
- Such sourcing problems are not limited to chert; most midwestern archaeologists are familiar with the problems associated with identifying catlinite and flint clays.
- Nineteen pieces of red stone identified as possible Barron County pipestone or Minnesota catlinite were found at the Fred Edwards site in Grant County.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from the name of George Catlin (1796–1872), American artist, + -ite1.