corundum
/kɔ'rʌndəm/
Definition
- Noun:
- A very hard mineral: Corundum is a naturally occurring crystalline form of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), known for its exceptional hardness, ranking 9 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
- Used as an abrasive: Due to its hardness, corundum is crushed and used in various abrasive applications, such as in sandpaper, grinding wheels, and polishing compounds.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The gem-quality varieties of corundum include ruby and sapphire.
- Industrial-grade corundum is processed to create abrasive powders for machining metals.
Advanced Usage
- "Corundum" in geology and gemology: The term is used specifically to denote the mineral species, with color variations due to trace impurities defining its gem varieties.
- Geologists identified the deposit as primarily composed of corundum.
Variants and Related Words
- Ruby (n): The red, gem-quality variety of corundum, colored by chromium.
- Sapphire (n): The gem-quality variety of corundum that occurs in all colors except red (which is ruby); most commonly blue, colored by iron and titanium.
- Alumina (n): Another name for aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), the chemical compound of which corundum is composed.
- Emery (n): A coarse, granular form of corundum mixed with other minerals like magnetite or hematite, used as an abrasive.
Synonyms
- Aluminum oxide: The chemical name for the compound.
- Abrasive mineral: A descriptive term highlighting one of its primary industrial uses.
Related Phrases
- "Corundum grit": Refers to crushed corundum of a specific particle size used for abrasive blasting or grinding.
- The surface was prepared using corundum grit for better paint adhesion.
Noun
-
very hard mineral used as an abrasive
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