xenocryst
/ˈzɛnəkrɪst/
noun
- A crystal that is foreign to the igneous rock in which it is found, having been incorporated from another source.
- Under the microscope, the xenocryst stood out because of its different color and shape.
- The presence of a xenocryst can tell scientists about the magma's journey through the Earth's crust.
- The geologist identified a xenocryst of quartz embedded in the basalt.