bassanite

noun

bas·​sa·​nite

bə-ˈsä-ˌnīt

plural -s

: a mineral CaSO₄‧¹/₂H₂O consisting of calcium sulfate found in white opaque crystals in blocks ejected from Vesuvius in 1906 (specific gravity 2.69–2.76) compare plaster of paris

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from Francesco Bassani, 20th century Italian geologist + Italian -ite

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