chondrite
Meaning
A stony meteorite containing small mineral granules called chondrules.
Structure
Usage
The museum's new acquisition is a rare carbonaceous chondrite.
Scientists study chondrites because they are primitive materials from the early solar system.
The chondrite contained numerous well-defined chondrules under the microscope.
Etymology
The word 'chondrite' is a modern scientific term constructed from classical Greek components to describe a specific type of meteorite. The root 'chondr-' originates from the Greek khondros, which primarily meant "grain (of wheat or salt)" and by extension "cartilage" due to its granular appearance. In the 19th century, scientists adopted this root to name the small, round, granular inclusions found in these meteorites, calling them "chondrules." The suffix '-ite', a standard denoter for rocks and minerals in geological nomenclature, was then appended to form the word for the meteorite itself. Thus, the term's literal logic is "a rock characterized by grains," directly linking the ancient concept of granularity to the meteorite's distinctive physical structure.
Analysis
- chondr: From Greek khondros, meaning "grain, cartilage." In this word, it refers to the granular texture of the rock. - ite: A suffix from Greek -itēs, used in geology to denote minerals, rocks, or fossils.