phenacite

Variant of phenakite

phenakite definition

phena·kite (fen′ə kīt′)

noun

a very hard, glassy, rhombohedral mineral, BeSiO, of various colors, sometimes used as a gem; beryllium silicate
often phenacite phen′a·cite′ (-sīt′)

Etymology: Swed phenakit < Gr phenax (gen. phenakos), cheat + -ite: from being mistaken for quartz

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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