xenolith

/ˈzɛnəlɪθ/

Definitions

1. noun

A fragment of rock that originates from the Earth’s crust and has been transported to a new location by geological processes, often embedded within a different type of rock.

“The geologist studied the xenoliths in the volcanic rock to understand the Earth’s crust at that location.”

Synonyms

  • foreign body
  • inclusion

Antonyms

  • endogenetic