CEFR C1

authigenesis

noun

Meaning

The formation of minerals or crystals within a rock or sediment after its deposition, as opposed to detrital or clastic minerals that were transported from elsewhere.

Examples

  • Authigenesis is a key process in understanding the diagenesis of sedimentary rocks.
  • The presence of authigenesis suggests that chemical conditions within the sediment were favorable for mineral growth.

Synonyms: diagenesis, mineralization, crystallization