surficial

[ ser-fish-uhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

of or relating to a surface, especially the land surface:
a surficial geologic deposit.

1890–95; blend of surface and superficial

Surficial, sur-fish′al, adj. formed on the surface, as opposed to Subterranean.

My foot-rule, my rough scale plans and piled-up figures of cubic capacity and surficial area carried all before them.

The very use of the terms "secondary" and "primary" has suggested antithesis between surficial and deep ores.

Mineral deposits of the "igneous after-effect" type may be profoundly altered through surficial agencies.

The zinc oxide minerals in the surficial zone also are sometimes colored yellow by small amounts of greenockite.

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