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petrogenesis

American  
[pe-troh-jen-uh-sis] / ˌpɛ troʊˈdʒɛn ə sɪs /

noun

  1. the branch of petrology dealing with the origin and formation of rocks.

  2. the origin and formation of rocks.

petrogenesis Scientific  
/ pĕt′rō-jĕn′ĭ-sĭs /

  1. The branch of petrology that deals with the origin and formation of rocks, especially igneous rocks.

Other Word Forms

  • petrogenetic adjective

Etymology

Origin of petrogenesis

First recorded in 1900–05; petro- 1 + -genesis

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.

Bell, K. & Keller, J. Carbonatite volcanism: Oldoinyo Lengai and the petrogenesis of natrocarbonatites.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.