septarian

[ sep-tair-ee-uhn ]

adjective

, Geology.

1. being or relating to a septarium, a nodule or mass of limestone, ironstone, etc., with a network of cracks inside it filled with calcite and other minerals:

   The creation of these septarian concretions began about 60 million years ago when muddy sediment slowly accumulated on the seafloor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of septarian¹

First recorded in 1815–25; septari(um) ( def ) + -an ( def )

Example Sentences

Another type of concretion, very abundant in many clays and shales, is the “septarian nodule.”

From Project Gutenberg

Many shales contain great numbers of ovoid or rounded septarian nodules of clay ironstone.

From Project Gutenberg

A little above the oyster bed is a band of hard-bluish septarian limestone.

From Project Gutenberg