bioclasticadj.
/ˌbʌɪə(ʊ)ˈklastɪk/, U.S. /ˌbaɪoʊˈklæstɪk/ Geology.
Designating or relating to sedimentary rock (esp. limestone) consisting of the fragmental remains of living organisms (fossils, shells, etc.).
ΚΠ
1903 Science 18 Dec. 789/1 The exogenic or clastic rocks were divided into autoclastic, hydroclastic, pyroclastic, bioclastic and anemoclastic.
1960 Bull. Geol. Soc. Amer. 71 509/1 Certain limestones..have the range of grain sizes indicated here and can even originate through some of the same processes suggested for the terrigenous deposits. However, because of their bioclastic origin we exclude them.
1991 R. Goldring Fossils in Field iv. 74 In bioclastic limestones and sandstones, and in oolites, preservation is generally as impressions of exteriors, infills (cores) or with replaced shell.
2002 J. Cater Key to Future iii. 44 A limestone made up only of shell debris is a bioclastic grainstone.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.1903