novaculite

[noh-vak-yuh-lahyt]

noun

Petrology.

1. a very hard sedimentary rock, similar to chert, composed essentially of microcrystalline quartz.

novaculite

/ nəʊˈvækjʊˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a fine-grained dense hard rock containing quartz and feldspar: used as a whetstone

Word History and Origins

Origin of novaculite¹

1790–1800; < Latin novācul ( a ) a sharp knife, razor + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of novaculite¹

C18: from Latin novācula sharp knife, razor, from novāre to renew

Example Sentences

The Quapaw and Caddo peoples lived here for thousands of years, mining the region’s ubiquitous novaculite, a type of flint stone, for weapons.

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Nature offers bizarrely dangling deadfall, glistening bits of white novaculite, fruiting wild shrubs, tweety birds, critter holes.

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The memorial consists of a bronze plaque along with the iconic park ranger campaign hat mounted on a Novaculite boulder.

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The finest of the novaculite rocks of central Arkansas are quarried near the city.

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Novaculite, nō-vak′ū-līt, n. a hone-stone.

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