clast
Broken rock bit
A clast is a fragment of rock or mineral that has broken off from a larger mass and become incorporated into a new geological formation.
Geologists use the term when describing sedimentary rocks, which are often composed of clasts cemented together.
The word appears in compounds like bioclast (a fragment of biological origin) and pyroclast (volcanic debris), and in adjectives like clastic, which describes rocks made of such fragments.
Loose small rock fragments
- sandFine rock particles
- pebbleWater-smoothed small rock
- cobbleWorn stone for paths
- boulderLarge weathered stone
granule · silt · clay · alluvium · deposit · till · loess · talus
Broken fragment of something brittle
- chipSmall broken-off piece
- splinterThin sharp fragment
- fragmentIncomplete portion of whole
- flakeThin detached fragment
spall · piece · sliver · shiver · breakage · particle · grain · bit
Cemented angular rock fragments
- conglomerateCorporation spanning many industries
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
- shaleCompacted clay sediment
- tuffSolidified volcanic ash
mudstone · siltstone · sedimentary · matrix · cement
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- erosionGradual wearing away
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- fractureSplit in hard material
- fragmentationBreaking into smaller pieces
disintegration · breakdown · shattering · spalling · impact · attrition
gravel
Loose small rock fragments
boulder · granule · silt · clay · alluvium · deposit · till · loess · talus · scree
shard
Broken fragment of something brittle
flake · spall · piece · sliver · shiver · breakage · particle · grain · bit · chunk
breccia
Cemented angular rock fragments
- conglomerateCorporation spanning many industries
- sandstoneCemented grain sediment
- shaleCompacted clay sediment
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
fragmentation · disintegration · breakdown · shattering · spalling · impact · attrition
clastbedrock
Solid stone underground
outcrop · source rock · country rock · solid rock · monolith
clastcement
Calcium powder binding agent
matrix · evaporite · calcium carbite · chert · groundmass
iconoclast, iconoclastic, clastic, iconoclasts, pyroclastic, pyroclast