Lamprophyre
A set of generally dark, porphyritic small-intrusion and dyke rocks characterised by conspicuous hydrous mafic phenocrysts.
Language and route: German Lamprophyr, Greek-derived scientific formation. German Lamprophyr, Greek-derived scientific formation
Literal gloss: glittering porphyritic rock
The name and its history
Carl Wilhelm von Gümbel (1874), strong secondary attestation · 1874 (documented in historical overview)
- What does the word literally mean?
- Literal naming sense: glittering porphyritic rock. Immediate language/formation: German Lamprophyr, Greek-derived scientific formation. Original implication concerns glittering dark mineral crystals, not a universally pale rock.
- What did the original author mean?
- Von Gümbel used the term for mica-rich dark dykes whose shiny mica crystals caught the eye in hand specimen.
- Why was the name needed?
- Ordinary porphyry and basalt names failed to convey the striking abundance of large dark mica plates.
- What evidence supported the original concept?
- Specimens of dark dykes and their conspicuous glistening mica; subsequently amphibole-rich examples broadened the concept.
- How has geology changed the concept?
- Lamprophyre is not one single QAPF modal field; subsequent usage expanded and the rock family is handled specially in igneous classifications.
Further historical context
Von Gümbel used the term for mica-rich dark dykes whose shiny mica crystals caught the eye in hand specimen.
Ordinary porphyry and basalt names failed to convey the striking abundance of large dark mica plates.
Specimens of dark dykes and their conspicuous glistening mica; subsequently amphibole-rich examples broadened the concept.
Lamprophyre is not one single QAPF modal field; subsequent usage expanded and the rock family is handled specially in igneous classifications.
Related names
Biotite · Amphibole · Dolerite · QAPF classification · Pegmatite
Sources
- University of Jena, Lamprophyre — Von Gümbel (1874); name evokes glittering biotite/amphibole
- BGS, Rock Classification Scheme — Modern descriptive rock-naming principles and definitions
- USGS, Lithologic classification of geologic map units — Modal definitions and named plutonic-rock categories
- IUGS / Le Maitre et al. (2002), Igneous Rocks: A Classification and Glossary of Terms, ch. 3 — Authoritative IUGS rock-name history and bibliographic attributions