| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| sapropel (sāp'rə-pěl') Pronunciation Key
An unconsolidated ooze consisting mainly of putrefied plant remains and found in anaerobic areas at the bottom of swamps, lakes, and shallow seas. |
sapropel
unconsolidated sedimentary deposit rich in bituminous substances. It is distinguished from peat in being rich in fatty and waxy substances and poor in cellulosic material. When consolidated into rock, sapropel becomes oil shale, bituminous shale, or boghead coal. The principal components are certain types of algae that are rich in fats and waxes. Minor constituents are mineral grains and decomposed fragments of spores, fungi, and bacteria. The organic materials accumulate in water under reducing conditions
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