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Glite Dictionary
🍂 From dead material 🪨 From broken rocks
detrital

detrital

9.6
Rock that is made of loose small pieces like sand
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈtraɪtəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : detrital
  • The detrital evidence was overwhelming!

Examples

  • The geologist studied the detrital layers to understand the history of the river valley.

  • Sandstone often contains a high percentage of detrital grains from older rocks.

  • The detrital material at the bottom of the lake was analyzed for mineral content.

  • The detrital materials can tell us about past climates.

  • The soil in the valley is rich in detrital particles that enhance plant growth.

  • Geologists study the detrital sediments formed from weathered rocks in the riverbed.

  • The detrital material found in the excavation site provides insights into the area's geological history.

Synonyms

rudaceous
vsdetrital
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Rock made of many large broken pieces

describes loose fragments or particles rather than material turned into solid rock
rubbly
vsdetrital
5.1

Covered with loose stones and broken pieces of rock

includes all loose fragments and fine particles rather than only coarse stones

Surface Forms

detrital positive

Morphology

detrital = detritus (transparent) = detritus + al

The adjective is formed in a regular way from the noun 'detritus' with the suffix '-al', meaning 'relating to loose fragments or debris'.

Etymology

The word detrital comes from the Latin word detritus, which means 'rubbed away' and comes from terere 'to rub'. So, detrital describes loose fragments or grains that are the worn-down bits of rock left after rocks break or rub together.