grain size
Sediment classification metric
Grain size refers to the diameter or dimensions of individual particles in a granular material such as sand, soil, sediment, or rock.
In geology and materials science, grain size determines how a substance behaves—fine-grained materials like silt pack tightly and retain water, while coarse-grained materials like gravel drain quickly.
The term also applies to crystalline structures in metals and ceramics, where smaller grain sizes typically yield stronger, harder materials.
The grain size of the sandstone indicated it formed in a high-energy river environment.
- micronMillionth of a meter
- Ostwald ripeningDissolution feeding larger crystals
- coarsenessRough or vulgar quality
- textureSurface tactile quality
- microstructureSubmillimeter material composition
nanocrystals · crystal growth · gradation · fineness · sedimentology · petrography · grit · deposition · sandpaper · grinding wheel · powder coating · recrystallization · particle · aggregate · abrasive · mesh · smooth · rough
- rock propertieshardness, porosity, density, roughness, luster
- Earth Measurementsdepth, magnitude, thickness, altitude, latitude
- rock featurescliff, cliff face, rock face, crag, overhang
- materials sciencealloys, metallurgy, metals, ceramics, polymers
- Sedimentologyporosity, permeability, bedding, stratification, mineralogy
- grain qualityprotein content, moisture content, gluten content, hardness, dockage
grain sizeporosity
Void space density
weight · surface area · moisture content · sorting · mineral content
grain sizefine-grained
Composed of minute particles
coarse-grained · clay · boulder · silt · gravel
grain, size, grains, grainy, granular, granule, grained, granulate, graininess