Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
nephelinite

nephelinite

9.9
A volcanic rock made mostly of the minerals nepheline and pyroxene
  • noun
  • /nɛfəˈlaɪnaɪt/
  • Specialized
: nefelinita
  • The geologist examined a sample of nephelinite from the volcano.

Examples

  • Geologists often study nephelinite to understand magma composition.

  • The distinct mineralogy of nephelinite sets it apart from other volcanic rocks.

  • A sample of nephelinite was collected from the volcanic region for analysis.

  • Many nephelinites are found in volcanic regions.

  • A sample of nephelinite was collected from the volcanic region for analysis.

  • Geologists often study nephelinite to understand magma composition.

  • The distinct mineralogy of nephelinite sets it apart from other volcanic rocks.

Surface Forms

nephelinite singular
nephelinites plural

Morphology

nephelinite = nepheline (opaque) = nepheline + ite

The formation is specialist mineral terminology using the technical base 'nepheline' plus the mineral-forming suffix '-ite', which is not informative to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Nephelinite comes from the mineral nepheline, which comes from the Greek nephelē meaning 'cloud' because the mineral can look cloudy, and the ending -ite means 'rock' or 'mineral', so a nephelinite is a volcanic rock made mostly of nepheline.