scoria
/scoria/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A porous, cinder-like form of solidified lava: Scoria is a type of volcanic rock that is dark-colored, vesicular (full of bubble holes), and relatively heavy. It forms when molten lava is thrown into the air and cools rapidly, trapping gas bubbles inside.
- The slag or dross formed on the surface of molten metal: In metallurgy, scoria refers to the waste material or oxidized impurities that rise to the top of molten metal during smelting or refining.
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Volcanic Rock):
- The path up the volcano was covered in sharp, red scoria.
- Scoria is often used in landscaping and for drainage in garden beds.
- Noun (Metallurgical Waste):
- The black scoria was skimmed from the surface of the molten iron.
- Ancient slag heaps contain scoria from early metalworking.
Advanced Usage
- Geological Context: Scoria is distinguished from pumice, another vesicular volcanic rock, by its darker color, higher density, and larger, thicker-walled vesicles. It is a textural term for a highly vesicular basaltic or andesitic rock.
- Historical/Archaeological Context: The presence of scoria can be evidence of ancient metalworking sites, as it is a byproduct of smelting ores.
Variants and Related Words
- Scoriaceous (adj): Having the porous, rough texture of scoria.
- The scoriaceous texture of the rock made it very lightweight.
- Cinder (n): A synonym for scoria, especially when referring to volcanic material. Also used for similar waste from coal combustion.
- Slag (n): A more common term for the glassy waste material from metal smelting, closely related to the metallurgical meaning of scoria.
Synonyms
- Cinder (for volcanic material)
- Lava rock (informal, for volcanic material)
- Dross (for metallurgical waste)
- Slag (for metallurgical waste)
Related Phrases/Idioms
There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs that use the word "scoria" directly. It is primarily a technical term.
Noun
- the scum formed by oxidation at the surface of molten metals