noun
- A dense, hard form of silicon dioxide (quartz) that forms under high pressure and temperature, found in meteorite impact craters and in the Earth's mantle.
Usage: technical; geology
Examples
- Coesite was first discovered in meteorite impact craters and is now recognized as evidence of extreme pressure events.
- The presence of coesite in rock samples indicates that the material experienced very high pressure conditions.
- Geologists use coesite as an indicator mineral to study the deep Earth and past impact events.
- Coesite has a higher density than ordinary quartz due to its compact crystal structure.