chabazite

noun

chab·a·zite

variants or chabasite

ˈkabəˌzīt

plural -s

: a zeolite CaAl₂Si₄O₁₂.6H₂O consisting of a hydrous silicate of calcium and aluminum that occurs in glassy rhombohedral crystals, varies in color from white to yellow or red, and is used in some water softeners (hardness 4–5, specific gravity 2.08–2.16)

Word History

Etymology

German chabasit, from French chabasie (from Late Greek chabazios, manuscript variant of chalazios precious stone resembling a hailstone, from Greek chalazios of hail, from chalaza hailstone) + German -it -ite