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marlite

marlite

9.9
Heat and pressure turn mud with clay and limestone into a hard rock
  • noun
  • /ˈmɑːrˌlaɪt/
  • Specialized
: marlita
  • Regional metamorphism transformed layers of marl and limestone into dense, compact marlite over millions of years.

Examples

  • Road builders avoided using marlite in the cut because it weathers and crumbles when exposed.

  • The geologist studied the marlite samples collected from the site.

  • The geologist examined a thin section of marlite under the microscope to identify clay minerals.

  • Many marlites can be found in the sedimentary layers of the region.

  • The geologist examined a thin section of marlite under the microscope to identify its unique crystalline structure.

  • Regional metamorphism transformed layers of marl and limestone into dense, compact marlite over millions of years.

  • Road builders avoided using marlite in the construction of the road because it weathers and crumbles when exposed.

Synonyms

metamorphic rock
vsmarlite
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A rock changed by heat and pressure inside the earth

is a specific type formed from marl with approximately the same composition

Surface Forms

marlite singular
marlites plural

Morphology

marlite = marl (semi-transparent) = marl + ite

Formed from 'marl' + the technical suffix '-ite' meaning a mineral/rock related to marl; the '-ite' sense is domain-specific and may not be obvious to general learners.

Etymology

Marlite comes from marl, a soft, earthy rock, plus the ending -ite that means 'rock' or 'mineral', as in calcite or graphite. So marlite is a rock that comes from marl after it has been changed by heat and pressure.