porcellanite Min.
(pɔəˈsɛlənaɪt)
Also -ela-.
[a. Ger. porzellanit (J. T. A. Peithner 1794), f. porzellan porcelain + -it, -ite1. So F. porcellanite.]
A hard naturally-baked clay, somewhat resembling jasper: also called porcelain jasper. Also, a synonym of porcelain-spar (Chester).
| 1796 Kirwan Elem. Min. (ed. 2) I. 314 Porcelain Jasper, of Werner... Mr. Peithner called it porcellanite, which name should be continued. 1865 Livingstone Zambesi xi. 222 They [mountains] are generally of igneous or metamorphic rocks, clay-slate, or trap, with porcellanite and zeolite. |