Definitions for benitoite
ben·i·toite

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. benitoitenoun

   A rare hard blue silicate mineral found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite.

2. Etymology: San Benito County, California, where it can be found, and -ite.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Benitoite

   Benitoite () is a rare blue barium titanium cyclosilicate, found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite. It forms in low temperature, high pressure environments typical of subduction zones at convergent plate boundaries. Benitoite fluoresces under short wave ultraviolet light, appearing bright blue to bluish white in color. The more rarely seen clear to white benitoite crystals fluoresce red under long-wave UV light. It was discovered in 1907 by prospector James M. Couch in the San Benito Mountains roughly halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Due to its similar color, Couch originally believed it to be sapphire, a variety of corundum. In 1909, a sample was sent to the University of California, Berkeley, where mineralogist Dr. George D. Louderback realized it was a previously unknown mineral. Corundum (sapphire) has a defined Mohs hardness of 9, while benitoite is much softer. He named it benitoite for its occurrence near the headwaters of the San Benito River in San Benito County, California.Benitoite occurs in a number of isolated locations globally, but gemstone quality material has only been found in California at the Benito Gem Mine where it was first discovered. It has been correctly identified in Montana, Arkansas, Japan, and Australia although they formed under slightly different conditions and only grow large enough to be considered an accessory mineral. In 1985 benitoite was named as the official state gem of California.Non-gem crystals of benitoite can have a very rare, six-pointed twinned form.

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Benitoite

   Benitoite is a rare blue barium titanium silicate mineral, found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite. Benitoite fluoresces under short wave ultraviolet light, appearing bright blue to bluish white in color. The more rarely seen clear to white benitoite crystals fluoresce red under long-wave UV light. It was first described in 1907 by George D. Louderback, who named it benitoite for its occurrence near the headwaters of the San Benito River in San Benito County, California. Benitoite occurs in a number of sites, but gemstone quality material has only been found in California. It is California's official state gem.

How to pronounce benitoite?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say benitoite in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of benitoite in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of benitoite in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

References

1. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Benitoite
2. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benitoite
3. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=benitoite