zeolite
ZEE-uh-lite
Definition
A type of porous, crystalline mineral, specifically occurring as a volcanic byproduct in the Roman concrete, which helps facilitate the formation of strengthening crystals.
Etymology
The word is derived from the Greek 'zein' (to boil) and 'lithos' (stone), as the mineral appears to bubble or froth when heated in a blowpipe flame.
In the news
The article explains that seawater reacts with volcanic ash to form zeolites like phillipsite, which act as a key chemical step in the self-healing process of Roman marine concrete.
Roman concrete piers built two thousand years ago along the Mediterranean coast are stronger now than the day they were poured, because seawater seeping into the volcanic ash mix triggers the slow growth of a rare crystal called aluminous tobermorite tha
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com