Definition

Noun: A mineral consisting of a combination of lead chloride and lead vanadate, with the chemical formula Pb₅(VO₄)₃Cl. It is an important ore of the element vanadium and is also a minor source of lead. Vanadinite typically forms in the oxidized zones of lead deposits and is recognized for its distinctive bright red, orange-red, or brownish-red color and its hexagonal crystal structure.

Usage Examples

• Geologists identified the brilliant red crystals in the rock sample as vanadinite.
• The primary commercial importance of vanadinite is as an ore of vanadium, a metal used in strengthening steel alloys.
• This museum's mineral collection features a superb specimen of vanadinite on a matrix of white barite.

Advanced Usage

• In Mineralogy: Vanadinite is classified within the apatite group of minerals. Its formation is often associated with other secondary minerals like wulfenite, pyromorphite, and mimetite in arid, oxidized environments.
• In Industry: While not the most common source, vanadinite is processed to extract vanadium, which is critical for producing high-strength, low-alloy steels and as a catalyst in chemical processes.

Variants and Related Words

• Vanadium (noun): The metallic element (symbol V) for which vanadinite is a source.
• Apatite Group (noun): The mineral group to which vanadinite belongs, characterized by a specific crystal structure and general chemical formula.

Synonyms

• Lead vanadate chloride (This is a descriptive chemical name, not a common synonym in general use.)

Notes on Meaning

The term vanadinite refers exclusively to the specific mineral. It is not used in idiomatic expressions or phrasal verbs. Its meaning is strictly scientific and pertains to geology, mineralogy, and mining.

Noun

1. a mineral consisting of chloride and vanadate of lead; a source of vanadium