Steenrijke

Steenrijke is a Dutch adjective meaning rich in stone, used to describe materials, landscapes, or substrates that contain a relatively high proportion of stones or rock fragments. The term signals that stone is a dominant component, as opposed to finer soil material or loose, non-stony ground. In practice, steenrijke appears in geological, geomorphological, and soil-science descriptions, as well as in regional or topographical notes about areas with significant rock outcrops, scree, or gravelly ground. Examples of usage include steenrijke bodem (stone-rich soil), steenrijke ondergrond (stone-rich substrate), and steenrijke kalksteenlagen (stone-rich limestone layers).

Etymologically, the word is formed from steen (stone) and rijk (rich). It is a compound adjective; the exact form of the ending can vary depending on the noun it modifies, with steenrijke commonly appearing before feminine singular nouns and in many fixed or general phrases, while steenrijk may be used in other contexts.

The term is relatively technical and more common in scientific or descriptive writing than in everyday conversation. Outside specialized contexts, speakers may opt for broader descriptions of rock content or texture, such as “stone-heavy” or “rocky,” depending on the nuance required. While steenrijke conveys a precise sense of stone abundance, it is one of several ways Dutch writers express geological or pedological characteristics related to stone content.