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lamprophyre

American  
[lam-pruh-fahyuhr] / ˈlæm prəˌfaɪər /

noun

Petrology.
  1. any dark intrusive rock in which dark minerals occur both as phenocrysts and as groundmass.


lamprophyre British  
/ ˈlæmprəˌfaɪə /

noun

  1. any of a group of basic igneous rocks consisting of feldspathoids and ferromagnesian minerals, esp biotite: occurring as dykes and minor intrusions

"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

lamprophyre Scientific  
/ lămprə-fīr′ /
  1. A dark igneous rock, having a porphyritic texture in which both the phenocrysts (larger crystals) and the matrix consist primarily of pyroxene, hornblende, and biotite.


Other Word Forms

  • lamprophyric adjective

Etymology

Origin of lamprophyre

1885–90; lampro- (< Greek lamprós clear) + -phyre

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.

There are only three types of magma on the planet that can manage it, at least that we’ve identified so far: kimberlite, lamproite, and lamprophyre.

From Scientific American

Sheets of quartz-porphyry, lamprophyre and diorite are also represented, the first of these types being quarried at Crarae on the north shore of Loch Fyne.

From Project Gutenberg

They are found mostly as loose crystals in gravel, but are known also in igenous rocks like andesite and lamprophyre.

From Project Gutenberg