clast

American  

[klast] / klæst /

noun

1. a grain of sediment, silt, sand, gravel, etc., especially as a constituent fragment of a clastic rock formation, as distinguished from a chemical or biogenic component of such a formation.

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clast Scientific  

/ klăst /

1. A rock fragment or grain resulting from the breakdown of larger rocks.

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Etymology

Origin of clast

First recorded in 1950–55; probably back formation from clastic

Example Sentences

Karátson, D., Sztanó, O. & Telbisz, T. Preferred clast orientation in volcaniclastic mass-flow deposits: application of a new photo-statistical method.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

A more objective and descriptive term is diamictite, meaning a rock with a wide range of clast sizes.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Most clast fragments start with some sharp edges due to the bedrock’s crystalline structure, and those points are worn down during transport.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017