Marlite
/ˈmɑːr.laɪt/noun
A calcareous clay or fine-grained sedimentary rock containing substantial amounts of both carbonate minerals and clay.
Did you know?Marlite belongs to the same broad geological family as marl, a material once prized for improving poor farmland because its lime content could neutralize acidic soil.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Latin
Latin
marga
“Marl: an earthy mixture of clay and calcium carbonate, used especially as an agricultural soil amendment.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
margila
“A diminutive or variant form associated with marl and marly earth.”
12th–13th Century
Old French
marle
“Marl or calcareous earth.”
14th Century
Middle English
marle
“Marl, a claylike earth containing lime.”
19th Century
English
marlite
“A geological formation or material resembling marl, formed with the suffix -ite for minerals and rocks.”
Modern English
English
marlite
“A calcareous clay or marl-rich sedimentary rock.”