Psephite
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Psephite (Greek: Psephos, pebble) is a sedimentary clastic rock with a grain size exceeding 2 mm (0.08 in), such as a conglomerate. It is equivalent to the Latin-derived term Rudite, though psephite is more commonly used for a metamorphosed rudite.
Pettijohn [1] gives the following descriptive terms based on grain size, avoiding the use of terms such as "clay" or "argillaceous" which carry an implication of chemical composition:
| Texture | Common | Greek | Latin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coarse | Gravel(ly) | Psephite (psephitic) | Rudite (rudaceous) |
| Medium | Sand(y) | Psammite (psammitic) | Arenite (arenaceous) |
| Fine | Clay(ey) | Pelite (pelitic) | Lutite (lutaceous) |
[edit] References
- ^ Pettijohn F.J. (1975), Sedimentary Rocks, Harper & Row, ISBN 0-96-045191-2
