Sapropel

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈsapɹə(ÊŠ)pÉ›l/

Origin

From German Sapropel, corresponding to sapro- + Ancient Greek πηλός ("mud, clay").

Full definition of sapropel

Noun

1. (geology) An aquatic sludge-like sediment rich in organic matter formed in oxygen-free areas at the bottom of lakes, seas etc.
• 2011, Chris Stringer, The Origin of Our Species, Penguin 2012, p. 47:Another instance in which Mediterranean sapropels have provided clues about events deep within the African continent is the ‘greening’ of the Sahara about 120,000 years ago.

Derived terms

• sapropelic

Anagrams

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