A rock or stone formation that has naturally formed in place through weathering and consolidation; material that transforms into rock while remaining in its original location.
From 'auto-' (self) + 'lith' (Greek 'lithos' meaning stone). A geological term contrasting with allochthonous rocks that have been transported.
Geologists obsessively classify rocks by their birth stories—autoliths formed exactly where you find them, while allochthons arrived via dramatic journeys, making geology partly a coming-of-age narrative for minerals.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.