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periclase

 
Dictionary: per·i·clase   (pĕr'ĭ-klās', -klāz') pronunciation

n.
A mineral form of magnesium oxide, MgO, usually occurring in cubic crystals or grains.

[German Periklas : Greek peri-, intensive pref.; see peri- + Greek klasis, breaking (from its perfect cleavage); see orthoclase.]


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Architecture: periclase
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A crystalline mineral which is sometimes found in portland cement, portland cement clinker, and certain slags.


WordNet: periclase
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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a white solid mineral that occurs naturally as periclase; a source of magnesium
  Synonyms: magnesia, magnesium oxide


Wikipedia: Periclase
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Periclase
General
Category Oxide mineral
Chemical formula MgO
Identification
Color Colorless, grayish white, yellow, brownish yellow, green, black
Crystal habit Granular, generally occurs as anhedral to subhedral crystals in matrix
Crystal system Isometric - Hexoctahedral
Cleavage {001} perfect; {111} imperfect, may exhibit parting on {011}
Fracture Brittle to conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness 6
Luster Vitreous
Streak White
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 3.67 - 3.9
Optical properties Isotropic
Other characteristics Fluorescent, Long UV=light yellow.
References [1][2][3]

Periclase occurs naturally in contact metamorphic rocks and is a major component of most basic refractory bricks. It is a cubic form of magnesium oxide (MgO).

The old term for the mineral is magnesia. Stones from the Magnesia region in ancient Anatolia contained both magnesium oxide and hydrated magnesium carbonate as well as iron oxides (such as magnetite). Thus these stones, called Stones from Magnesia in antiquity, with their unusual magnetic properties were the reason the terms magnet and magnetism were coined. Periclase is usually found in marble and pure periclase is colorless.

References


 
 
Learn More
predozzite (petrology)
dedolomitization (geology)
pencatite (petrology)

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Architecture. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Architecture and Construction. Copyright © 2003 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
WordNet. WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Periclase" Read more