xenolith

[ zen-l-ith ]

noun

, Petrography.

1. a rock fragment foreign to the igneous rock in which it is embedded.

xenolith

/ ˈzɛnəlɪθ /

noun

1. a fragment of rock differing in origin, composition, structure, etc, from the igneous rock enclosing it

xenolith

/ zĕn′ə-lĭth′,zē′nə- /

1. A rock fragment foreign to the igneous mass in which it occurs. Xenoliths usually become incorporated into a cooling magma body when pieces of the rock into which the magma was injected break off and fall into it.
2. Compare xenocryst

Derived Forms

• ˌxenoˈlithic, adjective

Other Words From

• xeno·lithic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of xenolith¹

First recorded in 1900–05; xeno- + -lith