melaphyre

[mel-uh-fahy^uhr]

noun

Petrology.

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

melaphyre

/ ˈmɛləˌfaɪə /

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• melaphyric adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of melaphyre¹

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

Example Sentences

In early years as ing�nieur des mines he investigated and described various new minerals; he proceeded afterwards to the study of rocks, devising new methods for their determination, and giving particular descriptions of melaphyre, arkose, porphyry, syenite, &c.

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

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

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Melaphyre is a name given to the very dark varieties of altered augitic lavas, rich in magnetite and chlorite.

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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.

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