CONCHOIDAL Meaning and
Definition
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Conchoidal is an adjective used to describe a specific type of fracture or shape found in certain materials, particularly minerals and rocks. It derives its name from the resemblance to the shape of a conch shell, which has a smooth, curved surface.
When a material exhibits a conchoidal fracture, it means that it breaks in a characteristic manner that produces smooth, curved surfaces with a unique shell-like appearance. This type of fracture is commonly observed in materials that are brittle, such as quartz, flint, obsidian, and some types of glass. The curved surfaces are typically convex and display concentric, wavy patterns, similar to the growth rings on a tree trunk.
The conchoidal fracture is a result of the way the bonds between the atoms or molecules in the material are broken. When a force is applied to the material, the bonds break along cleavage planes, which are the weakest points in the crystal structure. These cleavage planes intersect at different angles, creating the curved surfaces characteristic of a conchoidal fracture.
Conchoidal can also describe the shape or form of certain objects, particularly in the field of geology. For example, conchoidal quartz refers to quartz crystals or aggregates that exhibit the conchoidal fracture pattern.
Overall, conchoidal is a term used to describe the distinctive fracture or shape of certain materials, characterized by smooth, curved surfaces resembling those of a conch shell.
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Shell-like-applied to that peculiar fracture of rocks and minerals which exhibits concave and convex surfaces resembling shells.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for CONCHOIDAL
Etymology of CONCHOIDAL
The term "conchoidal" is derived from the Greek word "konkhoeides", which translates to "shaped like a shell" or "shell-like". It is a combination of the Greek words "konkhē" (shell) and "-oeidēs" (resembling or shaped like). The term was first used by the German geologist and mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner in the late 18th century to describe a specific type of fracture pattern often observed in certain minerals and rocks resembling the concentric rings found on seashells. The word "conchoidal" is now commonly used in geology, mineralogy, and archaeology to describe the characteristic smooth, curved, and shell-like fracture surfaces observed in materials such as flint, quartz, glass, and obsidian when they break.
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