Bioclasts are a term commonly used in geology and sedimentology. They refer to fragments of organic material, such as shells, bones, and plant matter, that have been incorporated into sedimentary rocks. Bioclasts are important indicators of past environments and can provide valuable information about the history of the Earth.
Definitions
Bioclasts are defined as fragments of organic material that are incorporated into sedimentary rocks. These fragments can include shells, bones, plant matter, and other organic materials. Bioclasts can be used to identify the type of environment in which the sedimentary rock was formed.
Origin
The term bioclast comes from the Greek words “bios,” meaning life, and “klastos,” meaning broken. Bioclasts are formed when organic material is broken down and incorporated into sedimentary rocks through processes such as erosion, deposition, and lithification.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, bioclasts are “fragments of organic material (such as shells, bones, or plant debris) that are incorporated into a sedimentary rock.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines bioclasts as “fragments of organic material, especially shells or bones, that have become incorporated into sedimentary rocks.”
Associations
Bioclasts are often associated with sedimentary rocks, particularly those that have formed in marine environments. They can be used to identify the type of environment in which the rock was formed, as well as the age of the rock.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of bioclasts include fossil fragments, shell fragments, bone fragments, and plant debris.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms for bioclasts, as they are a specific type of sedimentary rock fragment.
The same root words
The root words of bioclasts are “bios,” meaning life, and “klastos,” meaning broken. Other words that share these roots include biodegradable, biotic, and cataclysm.
Example Sentences
- The sedimentary rock contained numerous bioclasts, indicating that it had formed in a marine environment.
- The bioclasts in the rock were identified as shell fragments from a species of clam that lived millions of years ago.
- The presence of plant debris bioclasts in the rock suggested that it had formed in a freshwater environment.