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Glite Dictionary
hornfels

hornfels

9.9
A hard, dense rock made when clay-rich rock is baked by hot underground rock
  • noun
  • /ˈhɔrnˌfɛlz/
  • Specialized
translation icon : hornfels
  • The formation of hornfels occurs when clay-rich rocks are baked by igneous intrusions.

Examples

  • The geologists discovered a layer of hornfels near the old quarry site.

  • Because of its hardness and durability, hornfels is sometimes used in construction.

  • This is a piece of hornfels.

  • Look at this hornfels!

  • The formation of hornfels occurs when clay-rich rocks are baked by igneous intrusions.

  • Because of its hardness and durability, hornfels is sometimes used in construction.

  • The geologists discovered a layer of hornfels near the old quarry site.

Synonyms

hornstone
vshornfels
  • Specialized
9.9

A hard rock with small grains like flint that people used to make tools

focuses on formation by heat next to igneous intrusions rather than fracture features

Surface Forms

hornfels singular
hornfelses plural

Etymology

Hornfels comes from German parts horn ('horn') and fels ('rock') because the stone becomes very hard and sometimes shiny like a horn after it is baked by hot, underground molten rock. So, hornfels means a very hard rock made when clay-rich layers are cooked near hot, rising molten rock.