gneiss

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a coarse-grained metamorphic rock with distinct light and dark mineral bands, commonly formed under high temperature and pressure

   Bands of pale quartz and dark mica gave the exposed gneiss a striped appearance.

Borrowed from German Gneis, from Middle High German gneist, 'spark,' and Old High German gneisto, 'spark.' The geological name refers to a crystalline metamorphic rock whose mineral layers give it a conspicuously banded structure.

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