rhyolite

rhy·o·lite

R0227700 (rī′ə-līt′)n. A fine-grained extrusive volcanic rock, similar to granite in composition and usually exhibiting flow lines.

[Greek rhuāx, stream (from rhein, to flow; see sreu- in Indo-European roots) + -lite.]

rhyolite

(ˈraɪəˌlaɪt) n (Geological Science) a fine-grained igneous rock consisting of quartz, feldspars, and mica or amphibole. It is the volcanic equivalent of granite[C19: rhyo- from Greek rhuax a stream of lava + lite] rhyolitic adj

rhy•o•lite

(ˈraɪ əˌlaɪt)

n. a fine-grained igneous rock rich in silica: the volcanic equivalent of granite. [1865–70; rhyo- (irreg. < Greek rhýax stream of lava) + -lite] rhy`o•lit′ic (-ˈlɪt ɪk) adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

rhyolite - very acid volcanic rock igneous rock - rock formed by the solidification of molten magma

Translations

rhyolite

rhyolite,

fine-grained light-colored acidic volcanic rockrock,
aggregation of solid matter composed of one or more of the minerals forming the earth's crust. The scientific study of rocks is called petrology. Rocks are commonly divided, according to their origin, into three major classes—igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
..... Click the link for more information. . Rhyolite is chemically the equivalent of granite, and is thus composed primarily of quartz and orthoclase feldspar with subordinate amounts of plagioclase feldspar, biotite mica, amphiboles, and pyroxenes. Rhyolite lava exhibits a typical banded structure produced by its flow pattern. Rhyolite lavas occur in continental and submarine volcanoes, especially island arcs, and in igneous dikes. Rhyolite lavas are typically highly viscous and are explosively ejected from volcanoes. Rhyolites were formed in profusion in the Yellowstone Park area and throughout the southwestern portion of the United States.

Rhyolite

(also liparite), a cenotypal, extrusive rock rich in silica (68-77 percent SiO₂). It has a porphyritic texture and contains phenocrysts of quartz, potassium feldspar, plagioclase, and, less commonly, biotite or pyroxene in a glassy groundmass, usually with flow texture. A glassy variety virtually without phenocrysts is called obsidian. Paleotypal analogs are classified according to their alkali composition as keratophyres (sodic) or orthophyres (potassic). Rhyolite is the extrusive equivalent of granitoids.

rhyolite

[′rī·ə‚līt] (petrology) A light-colored, aphanitic volcanic rock composed largely of alkali feldspar and free silica with minor amounts of mafic minerals; the extrusive equivalent of granite.

rhyolite

rhy·o·lite

rhyolite

rhy•o•lite

rhyolite

rhyolite,

Rhyolite

rhyolite

rhyolite

Words related to rhyolite

noun very acid volcanic rock

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