detrital
Made of fragments
Detrital describes material formed from debris—particles worn away from rocks, minerals, or organic matter.
The term appears most often in geology: detrital sediments, detrital grains.
Detritus is the noun form, referring to the loose fragments themselves.
Cemented grain sediment
- siltstoneConsolidated silt deposit
- shaleCompacted clay sediment
- mudstoneCompacted clay and silt rock
- conglomerateCorporation spanning many industries
breccia · clastic · strata · beds · formations
Water-deposited loose sediment
- siltWaterborne earth particles
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- sandFine rock particles
- gravelLoose small rock fragments
till · loess · debris · residue · fragments · particles · grains · deposits
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- denudationRemoval of surface covering
- degradationDecline in condition
- attritionGradual reduction through loss
fragmentation · disintegration · breakdown · landslide · slump · creep · transport · dispersion
Point of origin
- originStarting point or source
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
- zirconZirconium silicate crystal
sandstone
Cemented grain sediment
conglomerate · breccia · clastic · strata · beds · formations
alluvium
Water-deposited loose sediment
gravel · till · loess · debris · residue · fragments · particles · grains · deposits · accumulation
weathering
Atmospheric breakdown of materials
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- denudationRemoval of surface covering
- degradationDecline in condition
attrition · fragmentation · disintegration · breakdown · landslide · slump · creep · transport · dispersion · gullying
source
Point of origin
- originStarting point or source
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
detritalchemical
Substance with defined composition
precipitated · in situ · biogenic · crystalline · igneous
detritalintact
Not damaged or altered
crystalline · whole · unfragmented · unweathered · unbroken