Albitophyre

/ælˈbɪtəfaɪr/ noun

Definition

A type of volcanic rock (porphyry) that contains prominent crystals of albite set in a finer-grained ground mass.

Etymology

From albite + 'porphyre' (from Greek 'porphyra,' meaning purple), describing a volcanic rock with visible albite crystals in a fine-grained base.

Kelly Says

Albitophyre reveals the cooling history of a volcano—large albite crystals formed slowly underground, then the magma rose quickly and cooled fast, leaving tiny crystals around them.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.