glauconite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic/Technical
Quick answer
What does “glauconite” mean?
A greenish mineral, a hydrous silicate of potassium, iron, and aluminium, found in marine sediments and sedimentary rocks like greensand.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A greenish mineral, a hydrous silicate of potassium, iron, and aluminium, found in marine sediments and sedimentary rocks like greensand.
A key mineral used in geology as an indicator of slow sedimentation in marine environments and for potassium-argon dating; also used in agriculture as a soil conditioner and slow-release fertilizer.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; term is identical in both scientific communities.
Connotations
None beyond its scientific reference.
Frequency
Equally low frequency and confined to specialist fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “glauconite” in a Sentence
The [rock] contains glauconite.Glauconite is formed in [environment].[Age] was determined using glauconite.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glauconite” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The glauconitic sandstone was clearly visible in the cliff face.
American English
- The glauconitic layer indicates a period of very slow sedimentation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in geology, sedimentology, and stratigraphy for describing rock composition and dating.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in soil science (as a fertilizer component) and in oil/gas exploration (as a stratigraphic marker).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glauconite”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glauconite”
- Misspelling as 'glaconite' or 'glaukonite'.
- Incorrect plural: 'glauconites' is rarely used; typically non-count or 'glauconite grains'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is common in specific sedimentary rocks like greensand, but it is not a ubiquitous mineral like quartz.
Yes, historically and in some organic farming, it is used as a slow-release potassium fertilizer and soil conditioner.
It serves as a key indicator of depositional environment (marine, slow sedimentation) and is crucial for radiometric dating (potassium-argon method) of sedimentary sequences.
No, it is a dull, earthy mineral with no gemological value.
A greenish mineral, a hydrous silicate of potassium, iron, and aluminium, found in marine sediments and sedimentary rocks like greensand.
Glauconite is usually academic/technical in register.
Glauconite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡlɔːkənaɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡlɔːkəˌnaɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GLAUcowsite (like a cowsite) where green cows (glauconite is green) slowly graze on the seafloor, forming minerals over millennia.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'glauconite' primarily used?