grovkornet

Grovkornet is a term used in geology and in Scandinavian languages to describe a coarse-grained texture in rocks and sediments. In Norwegian and Danish, grovkornet literally means “coarse-grained” and is used to refer to constituents that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye. The concept covers a range of rock types and sedimentary materials where grain size is relatively large compared to fine-grained varieties.

In igneous geology, grovkornet textures are typical of rocks that crystallized slowly, allowing crystals to grow to visible sizes. These phaneritic rocks include common examples such as granite, diorite, diabase, and gabbro. The coarse texture contrasts with fine-grained, rapidly cooled rocks where crystals are too small to be seen without magnification.

In sedimentary geology, grovkornet describes sediments with larger grains and clasts. This includes coarse sandstones with sizable quartz grains, as well as conglomerates and breccias that contain visible fragments. Metamorphic rocks can also exhibit grovkornet textures when mineral grains recrystallize and grow larger under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.

Etymologically, grovkornet derives from roots meaning “coarse” and “grain,” reflecting its primary meaning. The term is predominantly used in Scandinavian geological literature and education, and is often contrasted with finer descriptors such as fine-grained or aphanitic/cryptocrystalline textures.

Overall, grovkornet serves as a straightforward descriptor for materials whose mineral grains or clasts are large enough to be readily observed, signaling particular formation processes and rock classes within geology.