Pseudomorph
Description
A mineral that replicates the shape or form of another material. Pseudomorphs occur in three types:
1. Paramorph: a mineral that visually looks like another crystalline structure of the same composition (i.e., aragonite altering to look like calcite). This pseudomorph type is also called allomorph.
2. Infiltration pseudomorph: a mineral formed by deposition in which the new compound retains the structure and shape of the original (i.e., wood petrified wood).
3. Incrustation pseudomorph: a mineral formed in the cavity of a previous material whose shape was preserved by a coating from a second mineral (i.e., fossil).
Synonyms and Related Terms
paramorph; allomorph;
Additional Information
Jakes, K. A., and Sibley, L. R.1989. Evaluation of a partially mineralized fabric from Etowah. In Archaeometry; Proceedings of the 25th International Symposium. ed.Y.Maniatis. New York: Elsevier. 23744. Blanchette, R.A. and E. Simpson. 1992. Soft rot decay and wood pseudomorphs in an ancient coffin (700 BC) from tumulus MM at Gordion Turkey. International Association of Wood Anatomists Bulletin. 13:201-213.
Authority
- Website address 1, Website address 1 Comment: Dana's Manual of Mineralogy by Cornelis S. Hurlbut, Eighteenth Edition, (1971, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)
- at http://www.wikipedia.com, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: 'Psudomorph' definition from from Dana's Manual of Mineralogy by Cornelis S. Hurlbut, Eighteenth Edition, (1971, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)
- at http://www.wikipedia.com, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: 'Psudomorph' indicates definition primarily from Dana's Manual of Mineralogy by Cornelis S. Hurlbut, Eighteenth Edition, (1971, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)