English

Noun

1. a sedimentary rock rich in phosphate minerals such as apatite

Translations

• Italian: fosforite

A phosphorite or phosphate rock is a non-detrital sedimentary rock which contains high amounts of phosphate bearing minerals. The phosphate content of phosphorite is at least 20% which is a large enrichment over the typical sedimentary rock content of less than 0.2%. The phosphate is present as fluorapatite typically in cryptocrystalline masses (grain sizes < 1 μm) referred to as collophane.

References