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Glite Dictionary
tachylite

tachylite

9.9
A dark, glassy volcanic rock that forms when hot lava cools very fast
  • noun
  • /ˈtækɪˌlaɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : taquilita
  • The thin slice of tachylite revealed its glassy structure under the microscope.

Examples

  • Volcanologists collected tachylite samples to study rapid lava cooling.

  • The geologist discovered a piece of tachylite during the excavation.

  • Scientists discovered a layer of tachylite beneath the volcano's surface.

  • Many tachylites can be found in volcanic regions.

  • Scientists discovered a layer of tachylite beneath the volcano's surface.

  • The thin slice of tachylite revealed its glassy structure under the microscope.

  • Volcanologists collected tachylite samples to study the effects of rapid lava cooling.

Synonyms

volcanic rock
vstachylite
  • Specialized
4 3.6

A hard rock made when hot melted rock cools on or near the Earth's surface

is glassy and forms by much faster cooling of basaltic lava
volcanic glass
vstachylite
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A hard shiny rock made when hot lava cools and hardens very fast

is a dark glass made specifically from rapidly cooled basaltic lava

How Glassy

obsidian
12 7.9
tachylite
  • Specialized
9.9
basalt
  • Specialized
8 7.2

Surface Forms

tachylite singular
tachylites plural

Morphology

tachylite = tachy + lite

The parts are Greek combining forms (tachy- 'swift', -lite 'stone/mineral') that are not productive standalone English words for average learners, so the meaning is not derivable from familiar base words.

Etymology

Tachylite comes from Greek parts tachy- meaning 'fast' and -lite from lithos meaning 'stone', so it is like a 'fast stone' formed when lava cools so quickly that it becomes dark and glassy.