andesite

[an-duh-zahyt]

noun

1. a dark-colored volcanic rock composed essentially of plagioclase feldspar and one or more mafic minerals, as hornblende or biotite.

andesite

/ ˈændɪˌzaɪt /

noun

1. a fine-grained tan or grey volcanic rock consisting of plagioclase feldspar, esp andesine, amphibole, and pyroxene

andesite

1. A gray, fine-grained volcanic rock. Andesite consists mainly of sodium-rich plagioclase feldspar and one or more mafic minerals such as biotite, hornblende, or pyroxene. It often contains small, visible crystals (phenocrysts) of plagioclase.

Other Word Forms

• andesitic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of andesite¹

1840–50; named after Andes; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of andesite¹

C19: from _Andes + _-ite ¹

Example Sentences

Test yourself on differentiating granite from andesite at the outdoor rock garden, meditate among CWU’s compact Japanese Garden, and watch for massive sculptures adorning CWU’s pathways.

Read more on Seattle Times

Eichelberger, J. C. Origin of andesite and dacite: evidence of mixing at Glass Mountain in California and at other circum-Pacific volcanoes.

Read more on Nature

In many places, the flowing water has worn those rocks smooth, showing how strong they are, and how seamlessly the andesite merges with the granitic rock.

Read more on Scientific American

Danny Valle, an artist from Mexico City with a long black beard, designed the sculpture as a replica of the original andesite Coatlicue, which sits in Mexico City’s Museum of Anthropology.

Read more on The New Yorker

It turns out that hangi stones were carefully chosen, and one of the most popular types was an andesite boulder found in Central North Island.

Read more on BBC