xenolith

xen·o·lith

X0004100 (zĕn′ə-lĭth′, zē′nə-)n. A rock fragment foreign to the igneous mass in which it occurs.

xenolith

(ˈzɛnəlɪθ) n (Geological Science) a fragment of rock differing in origin, composition, structure, etc, from the igneous rock enclosing it ˌxenoˈlithic adj

xen•o•lith

(ˈzɛn l ɪθ, ˈzin-)

n. a rock fragment foreign to the igneous rock in which it is embedded. [1900–05] xen`o•lith′ic, adj.

xenolith

a fragment of rock embedded in another kind of rock.See also: Geology

Thesaurus

Noun

xenolith - (geology) a piece of rock of different origin from the igneous rock in which it is embeddedgeology - a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocksrock, stone - a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter; "he threw a rock at me"

Translations

Xenolith

xenolith

[′zēn·ə‚lith] (petrology) An inclusion in an igneous rock which is not genetically related, such as an unmelted fragment of country rock. Also known as accidental inclusion; exogenous inclusion.

Xenolith

a rock fragment that is foreign to the igneous rock in which it occurs. If the igneous rock enclosing the xenolith solidified at a great depth, then the xenoliths are usually greatly altered fragments of those rocks into which the magma intruded. But if the xenoliths are enclosed in the lava of a volcano, then they are usually fragments from the walls of the volcanic vent. The dimensions of the xenoliths vary greatly; they may be as small as individual crystals and their fragments, which can be distinguished only under a microscope (xenocrysts), or as large as several dozens or hundreds of meters.

xenolith

xen·o·lith

xenolith

xen•o•lith

xenolith

Xenolith

xenolith

Xenolith

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Words related to xenolith

noun (geology) a piece of rock of different origin from the igneous rock in which it is embedded

Related Words