Chlorophoenicite

/ˌklɔːroʊˈfiːnɪˌsaɪt/ noun

Definition

A rare green to greenish-red mineral containing arsenic and copper, found in oxidized ore zones.

Etymology

From chloro- (green) plus phoenic- (from Greek phoenikeos, purple-red) plus -ite (mineral). Named in the 19th century for its variable coloration from green to reddish tones.

Kelly Says

Chlorophoenicite's name literally means it looks both green (chloro-) and purple-red (phoenici-), which is exactly why mineral naming can be confusing—the same mineral can show different colors depending on light and viewing angle, so early scientists encoded all possibilities into one word.

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