pseudomorph

/ˈsuːdəˌmɔːrf/
noun
  1. A mineral or crystal that has the outer shape of another mineral, having replaced it while keeping its original form.
    • The museum displayed a pseudomorph of pyrite that looked exactly like a cube of salt.
    • This pseudomorph fooled many collectors because it kept the perfect shape of the original mineral.
    • Geologists found a pseudomorph where quartz had replaced the original calcite crystals.
  2. Something that has the appearance or form of something else but is not that thing.
    • The artist created a pseudomorph of a tree using recycled metal and glass.
    • The cake was a pseudomorph of a hamburger, made entirely of chocolate and frosting.
    • In the fog, the rock formation appeared as a pseudomorph of a castle.
Antonyms
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