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Glite Dictionary
clarke value

clarke value

9.9
Average amount of an element in the Earth's crust used by geologists
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : valor de Clarke
  • Researchers use clarke values to estimate the availability of elements for mining and extraction.

Examples

  • The clarke value of gold is approximately 4.0 parts per million.

  • The clarke value for iron is significantly higher than that of gold in the Earth's crust.

  • Knowing the clarke value helps geologists assess the rarity of certain minerals.

  • Researchers compared the clarke values of different elements to understand distribution patterns.

  • Scientists often refer to the clarke values of various minerals.

  • Knowing the clarke value allows geologists to evaluate the abundance of various elements in the Earth's crust.

  • The clarke value for aluminum is essential for understanding its presence in geological formations.

Surface Forms

clarke value singular
clarke values plural

Morphology

clarke + value

‘Clarke’ is a proper name/eponym with no lexical meaning for a B1 learner, and while ‘value’ indicates a measurement, it does not specify ‘average concentration in the Earth’s crust.’ The compound is a technical, eponymous term requiring domain knowledge, so its specific geochemical meaning cannot be derived from the constituent words alone.

Etymology

Clarke value comes from a scientist named Clarke who tried to give each element a simple average 'value' for how much of it is in the Earth's crust. So, the clarke value is the number geologists use to show 'how common or rare' an element is.