cristobalite

C3R1I1S1T1O1B3A1L1I1T1E1

noun

A mineral of volcanic rocks that solidified at a high temperature. Cristobalite is chemically identical to quartz, with the chemical formula SiO₂, but has a different crystal structure. Crystals are always microscopic, and usually form small rounded masses.

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Meanings

nouncristobalite (countable and uncountable, plural cristobalites)

plural cristobalites

  1. countableuncountablechemistryA mineral of volcanic rocks that solidified at a high temperature. Cristobalite is chemically identical to quartz, with the chemical formula SiO₂, but has a different crystal structure. Crystals are always microscopic, and usually form small rounded masses.

Origin

Named for the type locality at Cerro San Cristóbal, Mexico, + -ite.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish kristobaliiitti
  • kristobaliiittimineral
Polish krystobalit
  • krystobalitmineral
Cite this entry
APA

cristobalite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cristobalite

MLA

“cristobalite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cristobalite. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cristobalite,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cristobalite.

Source: cristobalite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.