# Psephite

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{{short description|Sediment or sedimentary rock}}
'''Psephite''' ([Greek](/source/Ancient_Greek): ''psephos'', "pebble")<ref>{{LSJ|yh{{=}}fos|ψῆφος|ref}}.</ref> is either a [sediment](/source/sediment) or [sedimentary rock](/source/sedimentary_rock) composed of fragments that are coarser than sand and which are enclosed in a matrix that varies in kind and amount. It is equivalent to a [rudite](/source/rudite). [Shingle](/source/Shingle_beach), [gravel](/source/gravel), [breccia](/source/breccia), and especially [conglomerate](/source/Conglomerate_(geology)), would all be considered psephites. It is equivalent to the [Latin](/source/Latin)-derived term rudite. Psephite is more commonly used for a [metamorphosed](/source/metamorphosed) rudite.<ref name="NeuendorfOthers2005a">Neuendorf, K.K.E., J.P. Mehl, Jr., and J.A. Jackson, J.A., eds. (2005) ''Glossary of Geology'' (5th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia, American Geological Institute. 779 pp. {{ISBN|0-922152-76-4}}</ref>

Pettijohn <ref>[Pettijohn F. J.](/source/Francis_J._Pettijohn) (1975), ''Sedimentary Rocks'', Harper & Row, {{ISBN|0-06-045191-2}}</ref> gives the following descriptive terms based on grain size, avoiding the use of terms such as "clay" or "argillaceous", which carry an implication of chemical composition:

{| class="wikitable" 
|+Descriptive size terms
|-
! Texture !! Common !! Greek !! Latin
|-
! Coarse
| gravel(ly) || '''psephite''' ''(psephitic)''|| [rudite](/source/rudite) ''(rudaceous)''
|-
! Medium
| sand(y) || [psammite](/source/psammite) ''(psammitic)''|| [arenite](/source/arenite) ''(arenaceous)''
|-
! Fine
| clay(ey) || [pelite](/source/pelite) ''(pelitic)''|| [lutite](/source/lutite) ''(lutaceous)''
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

Category:Sedimentary rocks

{{Sedimentary-rock-stub}}

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