Late 19th century. From Spanish rubio, use as noun of rubio fair, blonde, golden from classical Latin rubeus red. The mineral is so named on account of its colour.
Definition of rubio in US English:
rubio
nounˈruːbɪəʊ
Mining Metallurgy
Limonite mined in northern Spain.
Origin
Late 19th century. From Spanish rubio, use as noun of rubio fair, blonde, golden from classical Latin rubeus red. The mineral is so named on account of its colour.