Lhasaite
/ˈlɑː.sə.aɪt/noun
A mineral or mineral-related substance named in reference to Lhasa, Tibet.
Did you know?Lhasa comes from Tibetan ལྷ་ས་ (lha sa), traditionally interpreted as “place of the gods,” while the mineral suffix -ite ultimately comes from Greek and means “connected with” or “belonging to.”
Etymological Timeline
Classical Tibetan
Tibetan
lha sa
“Traditionally interpreted as “place of the gods”; lha means “god” or “deity,” and sa means “place” or “earth.””
17th–18th Century
Tibetan/European usage
Lhasa
“The English and European form of the name of the Tibetan capital.”
19th Century
English mineral nomenclature
-ite
“A mineral-name suffix ultimately derived from Greek -itēs, meaning “connected with” or “belonging to.””
19th–20th Century
English
Lhasaite
“A mineral term formed from Lhasa plus -ite, indicating an association with Lhasa or Tibet.”
Modern English
English
Lhasaite
“A rare mineralogical name associated with Lhasa, Tibet.”