phonolite

American  

[fohn-l-ahyt] / ˈfoʊn lˌaɪt /

noun

1. a fine-grained volcanic rock composed chiefly of alkali feldspar and nepheline, some varieties of which split into pieces that ring on being struck.

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phonolite British  

/ ˌfəʊnəˈlɪtɪk, ˈfəʊnəˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a fine-grained volcanic igneous rock consisting of alkaline feldspars and nepheline

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• phonolitic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of phonolite

1820–30; < French < German Phonolith. See phono-, -lite

Example Sentences

XAS determination of the Fe local environment and oxidation state in phonolite glasses.

From Nature • Dec. 12, 2017

Then over the black gneiss are found 800 feet of quartzites, usually in very thin beds of many colors, but exceedingly hard, and ringing under the hammer like phonolite.

From Canyons of the Colorado by Powell, John Wesley

At St. Helena there are similar, great, conical, protuberant masses of phonolite, nearly one thousand feet in height, which have been formed by the injection of fluid feldspathic lava into yielding strata.

From Volcanic Islands by Darwin, Charles

It is formed of basalt, trachyte and phonolite, and the soil is very fertile.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 3 "Fenton, Edward" to "Finistere" by Various

These three lower beds are covered by an unconformable mantle D of stratified sandy earth, including many pebbles of quartz, pumice and phonolite, land and sea-shells.

From Geological Observations on South America by Darwin, Charles