wacke

[ wak-uh ]

noun

1. a poorly sorted sandstone containing fragments of rock and minerals in a clayey matrix.

wacke

/ ˈwækə /

noun

1. obsolete.
   any of various soft earthy rocks that resemble or are derived from basaltic rocks

Word History and Origins

Origin of wacke¹

1795–1805; < German: a kind of stone

Word History and Origins

Origin of wacke¹

C18: from German: rock, gravel, basalt

Example Sentences

Among these may be found in the south-west chain, masses of trap, breccia, wacke, porphyry, &c.; and in the inland parallel chain, splendid specimens of coralline schist, agate, jasper, chalcedony, amydoloid, cornelian, and silicified wood are to be met with, of which I need only raise my eyes to those collected before me to say how beautiful they are.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet it is by no means apparent that these alone have contributed to form the present surface, the south-eastern side of the field terminating in much older formation of wacke.

From Project Gutenberg

The range bordering the eastern shore of the lake is basalt and basaltic wacke; on the western, it is partly gypsum and limestone, but resting on basalt.

From Project Gutenberg

The wacke is of a fine grain, and its constituents are indistinctly mingled; it is traversed by empty holes and bubbles, and occasionally by druses of zeolith.

From Project Gutenberg

Wacke cannot resist any long exposure, and hence fluid in contact with it imbibes oxide of iron and muriate of soda; whilst flocks and herds, corrupting the element in a still more offensive manner, not only impart a fetid taste and smell, but stir up the deposited mud, which emits a volume of sulphuretted hydrogen.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brick
• earth
• mud
• terra cotta