Porphyritic: meaning, definitions and examples
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porphyritic
[ ˌpɔːr.fɪˈrɪ.tɪk ]
geology term
Porphyritic refers to a texture in igneous rocks characterized by large crystals, known as phenocrysts, embedded in a finer-grained matrix. This texture indicates a varying rate of cooling of magma, where large crystals formed slowly beneath the surface while the surrounding material solidified quickly.
Synonyms
crystalline, phenocrystic, textured.
Examples of usage
- The porphyritic granite showed a striking contrast between the large quartz crystals and the fine-grained groundmass.
- Geologists identified porphyritic basalt as the result of complex volcanic activity.
- The rock's porphyritic texture suggested a long, intricate cooling history.
- Samples of porphyritic rhyolite were studied for insights into volcanic processes.
Translations
Translations of the word "porphyritic" in other languages:
🇵🇹 porfirítico
🇮🇳 पॉर्फिरीटिक
🇩🇪 porphyrisch
🇮🇩 porfiritik
🇺🇦 порфіритний
🇵🇱 porfiryczny
🇯🇵 斑れ石の
🇫🇷 porphyrique
🇪🇸 porfirítico
🇹🇷 porfirik
🇰🇷 편마암의
🇸🇦 بورفيريتيك
🇨🇿 porfyrický
🇸🇰 porfyrický
🇨🇳 斑状的
🇸🇮 porfiričen
🇮🇸 porfýrítískur
🇰🇿 порфириттік
🇬🇪 პორფირიტული
🇦🇿 porfiritik
🇲🇽 porfirítico
Etymology
The term 'porphyritic' derives from the Greek word 'porphura', which means 'purple'. This is a reference to the striking appearance of some rocks that possess a porphyritic texture, where the larger crystals stand out against a different background color. The term has been utilized in geology since the early 19th century to classify igneous rocks that exhibit this unique texture. As geological studies progressed, the understanding of porphyritic rocks expanded, leading to better insights into the processes of magma solidification and crystallization depths. The study of porphyritic textures helps volcanologists and petrologists to reconstruct volcanic activity and to understand magma evolution, making it a significant concept in the geological sciences.