the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical composition of rocks
petrochemistry in American English
(ˌpetrouˈkeməstri)
noun
1.
the branch of chemistry dealing with petroleum or its products
2.
the chemistry of rocks
Word origin
[1935–40; petro-2 or petro-1 + chemistry]This word is first recorded in the period 1935–40. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Arts and Crafts Movement, Rhodesian ridgeback, aeroembolism, blitz, roadblockpetro- is a combining form meaning “petroleum,” “the extraction and export of petroleum,”used in the formation of compound words. Other words that use the affix petro- include: petrochemical, petrodollars, petropower; petro- is a combining form meaning “rock,” “stone,” used in the formation of compound words.Other words that use the affix petro- include: petrogenesis, petrogram, petrograph, petrology