psephite
{{short description|Sediment or sedimentary rock}}
Psephite (Greek: psephos, "pebble"){{LSJ|yh{{=}}fos|ψῆφος|ref}}. is either a sediment or sedimentary rock composed of fragments that are coarser than sand and which are enclosed in a matrix that varies in kind and amount. It is equivalent to a rudite. Shingle, gravel, breccia, and especially conglomerate, would all be considered psephites. It is equivalent to the Latin-derived term rudite. Psephite is more commonly used for a metamorphosed rudite.Neuendorf, K.K.E., J.P. Mehl, Jr., and J.A. Jackson, J.A., eds. (2005) Glossary of Geology (5th ed.). Alexandria, Virginia, American Geological Institute. 779 pp. {{ISBN|0-922152-76-4}}
Pettijohn Pettijohn F. J. (1975), Sedimentary Rocks, Harper & Row, {{ISBN|0-06-045191-2}} gives the following descriptive terms based on grain size, avoiding the use of terms such as "clay" or "argillaceous", which carry an implication of chemical composition:
| class="wikitable"
|+Descriptive size terms | |||
| Texture | Common | Greek | Latin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coarse
| gravel(ly) || psephite (psephitic)|| rudite (rudaceous) | |||
| Medium | |||
| Fine |