evaporite

American

[ih-vap-uh-rahyt] / ɪˈvæp əˌraɪt /

noun

Geology.

any sedimentary rock, as gypsum or rock salt, formed by precipitation from evaporating seawater.

evaporite British

/ ɪˈvæpəˌraɪt /

noun

any sedimentary rock, such as rock salt, gypsum, or anhydrite, formed by evaporation of former seas or salt-water lakes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

evaporite Scientific

/ ĭ-văp′ə-rīt′ /

A sedimentary rock that consists of one or more minerals formed as precipitates from the evaporation of a saline solution, such as saltwater. Usually, the first evaporite to form from saltwater is calcium, followed by gypsum and then halite.

Etymology

Origin of evaporite

First recorded in 1920–25; evapor(ation) + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

evaporite

Potash, a group of highly soluble potassium-bearing evaporite minerals, is used as a fertilizer.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

Gordon, W. A. Distribution by latitude of Phanerozoic evaporite deposits.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

The Jurassic rocks at the base of the sequence are marine in origin, although the Jurassic sequence in Manitoba also includes evaporite layers.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

Hydrology and hydraulic properties of a bedded evaporite formation.

From Forbes ● Jan. 1, 2014

Evaporite, evaporite, evaporite, just like Mission One cores, just like Mission Three's, and just like every single mission before if you don't count all the basalt.

From Nature ● Jun. 1, 2011

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023