rhyolitic

1 9.5

Made from a light-colored volcanic rock that has a lot of silica

adjective
/ˌraɪəˈlɪtɪk/

Specialized

: riolítico

The volcano is known for its rhyolitic lava flows that create stunning, light-colored formations.

Examples

Though the feed is the subducting plate, the eruption was almost completely rhyolitic.

Blog text (34)
Researchers studied the rhyolitic composition of the rock samples collected from the eruption site.
He explained how rhyolitic eruptions typically produce thick, pasty lava that can block vents.

Synonyms

igneous

vsrhyolitic

Specialized

4 7.4

Rock like granite that forms when hot, melted rock cools

is narrower and refers to one silica rich volcanic rock rather than all such rocks

silicic

vsrhyolitic

Specialized

1 8.1

Containing a lot of silica, like some rocks and volcanic magma

is about a particular silica rich volcanic rock not general silica content

felsic

vsrhyolitic

Specialized

9.3

Light-colored igneous rock or mineral high in silica and feldspar

is a specific rock type rather than a broader compositional group

How Silica-rich

rhyolitic

Specialized

1 9.5

dacitic

Specialized

1 9.9

andesitic

Specialized

1 8.8

basaltic

Specialized

2 7.4

Surface Forms

rhyolitic positive

Morphology

rhyolitic = rhyolite (transparent) = rhyolite + ic

Clear adjectival formation from the noun 'rhyolite' meaning 'relating to rhyolite'.

Etymology

Rhyolitic comes from the rock name rhyolite, which was built from a Greek root rhy- meaning 'flow' and the ending -lite meaning 'stone', like in meteorite. So rhyolitic describes a light-colored volcanic rock made from flowing lava, which is why geologists use the word for silica-rich volcanic stones.