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Glite Dictionary
lithification

lithification

9.6
The change that turns loose sand or mud into hard rock
  • noun
  • /ˌlɪθɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : litificación
  • Over time, layers of mud and sand undergo lithification to form sedimentary rocks.

Examples

  • During lithification, sediments are compacted tightly and cemented to create rock.

  • During lithification, sediments are compacted tightly.

  • Geologists study lithification to understand how ancient rock layers were created.

  • The lithification process can take thousands or even millions of years.

  • The process of lithification takes millions of years.

  • Over time, layers of mud and sand undergo lithification to form sedimentary rocks.

  • Geologists study lithification to understand how sediment is transformed into solid rock.

Synonyms

concretization
vslithification
  • Specialized
9.1

Small pieces of rock or sand become hard and form a solid mass

focuses on whole conversion of loose sediment by compaction and cementation
diagenesis
vslithification
  • Specialized
9.9

Changes that turn soft sand or mud into hard rock over time

names the specific compaction and cementation steps forming solid rock

How Solid

solid rock
  • Informal
1 3.5
lithification
  • Specialized
9.6
sediment
  • Specialized
43 4.2

Surface Forms

lithification singular
lithifications plural

Morphology

lithification = lithify (opaque) = lith + ify + ation

The noun is formed from the technical verb 'lithify', but the Greek combining form 'lith-' is not transparent to most learners, so the meaning is not easily recoverable from the parts.

Etymology

Lithification comes from the Greek root litho- meaning 'stone' and the part -fication meaning 'making'. So lithification literally means 'making into stone', which is why it describes the process that turns loose mud and sand into hard rock.