melaphyre

noun

mel·​a·​phyre

ˈmeləˌfī(ə)r

plural -s

1

: a porphyritic rock consisting of phenocrysts of feldspar in a dark groundmass

broadly : a porphyritic igneous rock with dark-colored aphanitic groundmass and phenocrysts of various kinds

2

: a Mesozoic basalt

Word History

Etymology

French mélaphyre, from méla- mela- + -phyre

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