Definition

Noun: A colorless or pale brown mineral belonging to the mica group, characterized by its sodium content. It is a phyllosilicate mineral, often found in metamorphic rocks.

Usage

Paragonite is used specifically as a mineralogical term. It names a distinct mineral species within the mica family, differentiated from the more common potassium-rich mica, muscovite, by its dominant sodium content.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The schist sample contained significant amounts of paragonite alongside quartz.
  • Under the microscope, the pale, flaky crystals were identified as paragonite.
  • The chemical analysis confirmed the mica was paragonite, not muscovite.

Advanced Usage

• In Petrology/Geology: The presence of paragonite is an important indicator of specific pressure and temperature conditions during metamorphism, particularly in blueschist and eclogite facies rocks.
  • The assemblage paragonite + glaucophane + garnet is typical for high-pressure metamorphism.

Variants and Related Words

• Mica (n): The broader group of silicate minerals to which paragonite belongs, known for perfect basal cleavage.
• Muscovite (n): The potassium-dominant analogue of paragonite, a very common light-colored mica.
• Phyllosilicate (n): A class of silicate minerals with a sheet-like structure, which includes micas like paragonite.

Synonyms

• Sodium mica: A descriptive synonym highlighting its chemical composition.

Notes on Meaning

This word has a single, highly specific scientific meaning. It is not used in general language, idioms, or phrasal verbs. Its usage is confined to geology, mineralogy, and related earth sciences.

Noun

1. a colorless or pale brown mica with sodium