lechatelierite

L1E1C3H4A1T1E1L1I1E1R1I1T1E1

noun

A type of natural or artificial glass formed by the sudden melting of silica sand or sandstone by extreme heat (for instance, from a lightning strike, impact event, or nuclear explosion), followed by rapid cooling.

Similar
quartz glassquartzvitreous silicacrystal
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounlechatelierite (usually uncountable, plural lechatelierites)

plural lechatelierites

  1. uncountableusuallygeographyA type of natural or artificial glass formed by the sudden melting of silica sand or sandstone by extreme heat (for instance, from a lightning strike, impact event, or nuclear explosion), followed by rapid cooling.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouncolorless glass made of almost pure silica

Similar
quartz glassquartzvitreous silicacrystal
Broader
natural glass
Also see
crystalquartzquartz glass

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From Henry Louis Le Chatelier, the French chemist

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lechatelierite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lechatelierite

MLA

“lechatelierite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lechatelierite. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lechatelierite,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lechatelierite.

Source: lechatelierite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.