Pelitic
/pəˈlɪtɪk/noun
Relating to sediment or rock composed chiefly of very fine clay- or mud-sized particles.
Did you know?Pelitic rocks are the geological descendants of ancient mud, often preserving clues about vanished oceans, climates, and environments.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“Mud, clay, or material that is dark and sticky; the proposed ancestral root behind Greek pelos”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πηλός (pēlós)
“Clay, mud, or fine earth”
19th Century
French
pélite
“A rock or sediment formed from clayey material”
19th Century
English
pelite
“A fine-grained sedimentary rock, especially one derived from mud or clay”
19th–20th Century
English
pelitic
“Relating to pelite or to fine clay-rich sediment and rock”
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