granodiorite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical, Scientific, Academic
Quick answer
What does “granodiorite” mean?
A coarse-grained plutonic rock containing quartz, plagioclase feldspar (more than potassium feldspar), and biotite or hornblende.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A coarse-grained plutonic rock containing quartz, plagioclase feldspar (more than potassium feldspar), and biotite or hornblende.
An intrusive igneous rock intermediate in composition between granite and diorite, commonly found in batholiths and used as a dimension stone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
None beyond the technical definition.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both dialects, used exclusively in geology.
Grammar
How to Use “granodiorite” in a Sentence
The [geological formation] is composed of granodiorite.Granodiorite intrudes the [surrounding rock].Samples of granodiorite were collected from the [location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “granodiorite” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The granodioritic intrusion was mapped over several kilometres.
American English
- They identified a granodioritic phase within the larger batholith.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Potentially used in quarrying, mining, or dimension stone industry reports.
Academic
Common in geology textbooks, journal articles, and field reports.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context; used for precise rock classification in geology, engineering geology, and archaeology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “granodiorite”
- Misspelling as 'granodiorate' or 'granodiorit'.
- Incorrectly classifying a rock as granodiorite without thin-section analysis.
- Using it as a general term for any grey, coarse-grained rock.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Granodiorite has more plagioclase feldspar and less potassium feldspar than granite, making it compositionally intermediate between granite and diorite.
It is commonly found in the large, deep-rooted cores of mountain ranges (batholiths), such as the Sierra Nevada batholith in California.
Yes, like granite, it is coarse-grained, meaning individual crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica are visible to the naked eye.
When durable and attractive, it is quarried for dimension stone, used in construction, countertops, and as paving or curbing stone.
A coarse-grained plutonic rock containing quartz, plagioclase feldspar (more than potassium feldspar), and biotite or hornblende.
Granodiorite is usually technical, scientific, academic in register.
Granodiorite: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡranə(ʊ)ˈdʌɪərʌɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænoʊˈdaɪəˌraɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No idioms exist for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GRANite + diORITE = GRANODIORITE (a rock between them). Think of a GRANd OLD rock that's a DIORama of minerals.
Conceptual Metaphor
None in common use. In technical analogy, it is a 'cousin' or 'intermediate' between granite and diorite.
Practice
Quiz
Granodiorite is primarily classified as what type of rock?