melaphyre

[ mel-uh-fahyuhr ]

noun

, Petrology.

1. a type of dark igneous rock embedded with feldspar crystals, related to basalt.

melaphyre

/ ˈmɛləˌfaɪə /

noun

1. obsolete.
   geology a type of weathered amygdaloidal basalt or andesite

Other Words From

• mel·a·phyr·ic [mel-, uh, -, fir, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of melaphyre¹

C19: via French from Greek melas black + ( por ) phura purple

Example Sentences

In early years as ing�nieur des mines he investigated and described various new minerals; he proceeded afterwards to the study of rocks, devising new methods for their determination, and giving particular descriptions of melaphyre, arkose, porphyry, syenite, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

Apophyllite is a mineral of secondary origin, commonly occurring, in association with other zeolites, in amygdaloidal cavities in basalt and melaphyre.

From Project Gutenberg

In China, at the close of the period, there were enormous eruptions of melaphyre, porphyrite and quartz-porphyry.

From Project Gutenberg

Melaphyre is a name given to the very dark varieties of altered augitic lavas, rich in magnetite and chlorite.

From Project Gutenberg

In the older rocks, basalt has often undergone decomposition into melaphyre; and amongst the metamorphic rocks it has been changed into diorite or hornblende rock; the augite having been converted into hornblende.

From Project Gutenberg