noun
- Plural of hornfels; hard, fine-grained metamorphic rocks formed by contact metamorphism of sedimentary or volcanic rocks.
Usage: geology; technical
Examples
- The hornfelses in the quarry showed evidence of intense heat from the nearby igneous intrusion.
- Geologists identified several hornfelses in the contact zone surrounding the granite pluton.
- These hornfelses are characterized by their dense texture and lack of foliation.
- The collection included samples of hornfelses from different metamorphic grades.
- Hornfelses often contain minerals like cordierite and andalusite formed under high temperature conditions.