Psephite

{{short description|Sediment or sedimentary rock}} '''Psephite''' (Greek: ''psephos'', "pebble")<ref>{{LSJ|yh{{=}}fos|ψῆφος|ref}}.</ref> is either a sediment or 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. Shingle, gravel, breccia, and especially conglomerate, would all be considered psephites. It is equivalent to the Latin-derived term rudite. Psephite is more commonly used for a 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. (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 ''(rudaceous)'' |- ! Medium | sand(y) || psammite ''(psammitic)''|| arenite ''(arenaceous)'' |- ! Fine | clay(ey) || pelite ''(pelitic)''|| lutite ''(lutaceous)'' |}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Sedimentary rocks