noun
- plural of staurolite; brown or reddish-brown metamorphic minerals that often form cross-shaped crystals
Usage: geology; mineralogy
Examples
- The geologist found several staurolites embedded in the schist formation.
- Staurolites are commonly used as index minerals to determine metamorphic grade.
- The cross-shaped staurolites were easily identified in the rock sample.
- These staurolites formed under high temperature and pressure conditions.
- The museum’s mineral collection includes several well-formed staurolites.
- Students learned to recognize staurolites by their distinctive twinned crystals.