pseudomorph

A deceptive, irregular, or false form; specifically:

Noun

  1. A deceptive, irregular, or false form; specifically:

    1. (geology, mineralogy) A mineral that formed by replacement of an existing mineral (or organic matter) such that the new mineral has the appearance and dimensions of the original.

      • Petrified wood is a silicic pseudomorph of the original wood.
      • The first kind of pseudomorphs, are pseudomorphs by alteration; the second, pseudomorphs by replacement; the third, pseudomorphs by infiltration; the fourth, pseudomorphs by incrustation. - 1852, James D. Dana, A Manual...

Origin

From pseudo- (“false”) + -morph (“form”).

Forms

pseudomorphs

Related

pseudomorphism

Derived

opal pseudomorph pseudomorphic

Verb

  1. To be transformed into such a form

Forms

pseudomorphs pseudomorphing pseudomorphed