Definition

A type of rock that is mainly made up of minerals called pyroxenes and does not contain olivine.

Example

Geologists studied the pyroxenite to understand its formation process.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of pyroxenite?

Yeah, I think it's a type of igneous rock, right?

Exactly! It's mostly made up of pyroxenes, which is pretty cool.

I’d love to learn more about how it's formed.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Pyroxenite is formed from "pyroxene" (from Greek "pur" meaning fire and "xenos" meaning stranger) and the suffix "-ite" (meaning rock or mineral). The word refers to a type of rock that is primarily composed of the mineral pyroxene, which is often formed from volcanic activity.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pyroxene' as a mineral that comes from 'fire' and 'stranger', indicating its volcanic origins, and remember that '-ite' signifies a type of rock.

Visually Confused Words