Geol. Obs. [app. a. G. wacken-, combining form of wacke: see prec.] = WACKE.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 219. [Basaltine] is most found in basalts, wacken, and lava.
1802. Playfair, Illustr. Hutton. Theory, 67. The wacken, mullen and crag of Kirwan.
b. Comb.: wacken porphyry.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), I. 355. Wacken Porphyry.
1807. Headrick, Arran, 61. The hills at the head of Glencloy are composed of wacken porphyry.
Hence Wackenitic a., of the nature or composition of wacke.
1866. Lawrence, trans. Cotta’s Rocks Classified (1878), 83. We shall use the adjective ‘wackenitic’ to designate this [decomposed] state of those rocks.
