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pyroxene
pyroxene [ pī rók seen ]


noun 
Definition:
 
silicate mineral: a mineral belonging to a group of dark green, brown, or black silicate minerals containing varying amounts of calcium, aluminium, iron, magnesium, and sodium. Source: igneous and metamorphic rocks.
[Early 19th century. < French pyroxène< Greek pur 'fire' + xenos 'stranger'; because originally thought to be a foreign substance in igneous rock]

pyroxenic [ p rok sénnik ] adjective
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
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