Definition of nummulite in English:
nummulite
noun ˈnʌmjʊlʌɪtˈnəmjəˌlaɪt
The flat disc-shaped calcareous shell of a foraminiferan (single-celled planktonic animal), found commonly as a fossil up to 8 cm across in marine Tertiary deposits.
Family Nummulitidae, order Foraminiferida: several genera, including Nummulites
Example sentencesExamples
- Well-rounded clasts include lava, volcaniclastic sandstones and bioclastic limestones with nummulites, bryozoa, microbial carbonate and bivalve material.
- They found that the Eocene nummulites lived in nutrient-rich environments during a warm climatic phase.
- The occurrence higher in the succession of nummulites and neritic fossils indicates overall shallowing upwards.
- In the seas, the calcareous nannofossils were still in evidence but in shallow waters the benthonic nummulite and other larger foraminifera became very abundant.
Origin
Early 19th century: from Latin nummulus (diminutive of nummus 'coin') + -ite1.
Definition of nummulite in US English:
nummulite
nounˈnəmyəˌlītˈnəmjəˌlaɪt
The flat disk-shaped calcareous shell of a foraminifer, found commonly as a fossil up to 8 cm across in marine Tertiary deposits.
Family Nummulitidae, order Foraminiferida: several genera, including Nummulites
Example sentencesExamples
- They found that the Eocene nummulites lived in nutrient-rich environments during a warm climatic phase.
- Well-rounded clasts include lava, volcaniclastic sandstones and bioclastic limestones with nummulites, bryozoa, microbial carbonate and bivalve material.
- The occurrence higher in the succession of nummulites and neritic fossils indicates overall shallowing upwards.
- In the seas, the calcareous nannofossils were still in evidence but in shallow waters the benthonic nummulite and other larger foraminifera became very abundant.
Origin
Early 19th century: from Latin nummulus (diminutive of nummus ‘coin’) + -ite.