1. A hard, glassy mineral composed of sodium aluminum silicate, found in igneous rocks and used in ceramics and glass manufacturing.
Usage: Also spelled nepheline.; Technical/mineralogical term.; Commonly used in geology and materials science.

Examples

• Nephelite is a key component in some types of volcanic rock.
• The ceramic industry uses nephelite as a flux to lower melting temperatures.
• Geologists identified nephelite crystals in the basalt sample.
• Nephelite-rich rocks are often found in alkaline igneous formations.
• The glass manufacturer added nephelite to improve the product's durability.