illite Hear it!

illite Definition

☆ il·lite (il′īt′)

noun

any of a group of micalike clay minerals usually consisting of interlayered muscovite and montmorillonite

Etymology: < Ill(inois) + -ite

illite Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • growth: The timing of illite growth can be dated by K-Ar, and linked to calibration of basin modeling software.
  • clay: Illite clay reduces permeability, but also seems to hold a record of when oil charged a structure.