breccia

[ brech-ee-uh, bresh- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Petrology.

breccia

/ ˈbrɛtʃɪə /

a rock consisting of angular fragments embedded in a finer matrix, formed by erosion, impact, volcanic activity, etc

breccia

/ brĕch′ē-ə,brĕch′ə,brĕsh′- /

A rock composed of angular fragments embedded in a fine-grained matrix. Breccias form from explosive volcanic ejections, the compaction of talus, or plate tectonic processes. Breccias are different from conglomerates in that the fragments they contain are angular instead of rounded.

Origin of breccia¹

1765–75; < Italian < Germanic; compare Old High German brecha breaking

Origin of breccia¹

C18: from Italian, from Old High German brecha a fragment; see breach

The specimen of this breccia is attached to a plate of granular quartz, and may possibly have been part of a vein.

It was discovered by chance in 1858, having been until then hermetically sealed by a mass of limestone breccia.

Lapping against it, at the mouth of the river, is a curious formation of magnesian breccia.

Below this were strata of trachitic breccia and augite; the formation was then seamy to an unknown depth.

What is the difference between trappean breccia and trappean conglomerate?

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