cacoxenite

cacoxenite

English Noun

Definition

A soft phosphate of iron occurring in yellowish clumps: hydrated iron aluminum phosphate oxide: (Fe,Al)₂₅(PO₄)₁₇O₆(OH)₁₂·17H₂O.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek κακός (kakós, “bad”) + ξένος (xénos, “guest”) because the phosphorous content of cacoxenite lessens the quality of iron smelted from ore containing it.