[shist] 
| any of a class of crystalline metamorphic rocks whose constituent mineral grains have a more or less parallel or foliated arrangement. |
| schist (shĭst) n. Any of various medium-grained to coarse-grained metamorphic rocks composed of laminated, often flaky parallel layers of chiefly micaceous minerals. [French schiste, from Latin (lapis) schistos, fissile (stone), a kind of iron ore, from Greek skhistos, split, divisible, from skhizein, to split; see skei- in Indo-European roots.] schis'tose' (shĭs'tōs'), schis'tous (-təs) adj. |
| schist (shĭst) Pronunciation Key
A highly foliated, medium-grained metamorphic rock that splits easily into flakes or slabs along well-defined planes of mica. The mineral composition of schist is varied and is often reflected in the name given to the rock. For example, a schist that contains garnet is called a garnet schist. A schist containing chlorite is called a chlorite schist. schistose adjective (shĭs'tōs') |