noun
- A fragment of rock or mineral produced by the weathering or erosion of larger rocks.
Usage: geology; technical
Examples
- The riverbed was composed of clasts of varying sizes, from fine sand to large pebbles.
- Geologists examined the clasts embedded in the sedimentary rock to determine the source of the material.
- Weathering processes break down bedrock into smaller clasts over time.
- The clasts in this conglomerate range from quartz to feldspar.
- Glacial erosion produces angular clasts that are transported by ice and water.