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melaphyre

American  
[mel-uh-fahyuhr] / ˈmɛl əˌfaɪər /

noun

Petrology.
  1. a type of dark igneous rock embedded with feldspar crystals, related to basalt.


melaphyre British  
/ ˈmɛləˌfaɪə /

noun

  1. obsolete geology a type of weathered amygdaloidal basalt or andesite

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of melaphyre

C19: via French from Greek melas black + ( por ) phura purple

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.

The rocks consist chiefly of basalt, dolerite, melaphyre and felstone.

From Volcanoes: Past and Present by Hull, Edward

In the older rocks, basalt has often undergone decomposition into melaphyre; and amongst the metamorphic rocks it has been changed into diorite or hornblende rock; the augite having been converted into hornblende.

From Volcanoes: Past and Present by Hull, Edward

Apophyllite is a mineral of secondary origin, commonly occurring, in association with other zeolites, in amygdaloidal cavities in basalt and melaphyre.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

The Rowley Hills in Staffordshire, commonly known as Rowley Ragstone, are melaphyre.

From The Student's Elements of Geology by Lyell, Charles, Sir

In China, at the close of the period, there were enormous eruptions of melaphyre, porphyrite and quartz-porphyry.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various

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