hornfels: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2+)Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “hornfels” mean?
A fine-grained, non-foliated metamorphic rock formed by contact metamorphism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fine-grained, non-foliated metamorphic rock formed by contact metamorphism.
A hard, compact rock resulting from the baking of sedimentary rocks like shale or mudstone by the heat of nearby igneous intrusions. It is valued as a durable building and paving stone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning, spelling, or usage.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in general language but standard in geological terminology in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “hornfels” in a Sentence
[Hornfels] is formed from [parent rock] by [process].The [intrusion] produced a [width] zone of [hornfels].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May appear in context of quarrying, mineral rights, or construction material sourcing.
Academic
Common in geology, earth science, and archaeology textbooks and papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in geological surveys, petrology, and material science.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hornfels”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hornfels”
- Misspelling: 'hornfells', 'hornfel'.
- Mispronunciation: putting stress on the second syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not rare geologically, but it is a specialised term not commonly encountered outside technical fields.
No, by definition, hornfels is non-foliated, meaning it lacks the layered or banded structure seen in rocks like slate or gneiss.
Its hardness and durability make it suitable for use as aggregate, roadstone, and occasionally as a dimension stone for construction.
It comes from German, where 'Horn' means horn (referring to its hardness) and 'Fels' means rock.
A fine-grained, non-foliated metamorphic rock formed by contact metamorphism.
Hornfels is usually technical/scientific in register.
Hornfels: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːnfɛlz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːrnfɛlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HORN being played near a FELL (hill) made of stone. The heat from the musician's breath bakes the hill's rock into HORNFELS.
Conceptual Metaphor
Hornfels is the 'ceramic' of the geological world, hardened by an intense, localised heat.
Practice
Quiz
Hornfels is primarily classified as which type of rock?