Lohkoisia

Lohkoisia is a Finnish term used to describe things that are block-like or composed of blocks. The form lohkoisia (plural, adjectival) stems from lohko meaning “block” and the suffix -isia, which marks descriptive or plural adjective usage in Finnish. In scientific and technical Finnish, the word functions as an ordinary descriptive term rather than a proper noun.

In geology and geomorphology, lohkoisia may be applied to rock surfaces or outcrops that consist of distinct blocks or fragments bounded by joints. Such blocky textures can arise from mechanical weathering, fracturing, or periglacial processes, and they may form field patterns where individual blocks align in a grid or polygonal arrangement. The term emphasizes the appearance and arrangement of the material rather than a specific mineral composition.

In archaeology and construction, lohkoisia can describe masonry or architectural elements built from large, regularly sized stone blocks. This usage highlights the method of construction—block-based rather than monolithic or rubble work—and is commonly found in discussions of traditional stone buildings, bridges, or retaining walls.

The term is primarily found in Finnish-language sources and is generally translated into English as “blocky” or “in blocks.” It functions as a descriptive label rather than a designation of a distinct taxon or category, and its exact nuance depends on the disciplinary context in which it appears. See also: polygonal ground, blocky weathering, ashlar masonry.