An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics
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A combining form meaning "lover of, attracted to" that specified by the initial element.

-phile, also -phil, from M.L. -philus, from Gk. -philos, common suffix in personal names (such as Theophilos), from philos "loving, dear," from philein "to love," which is of unknown origin.

-dust, from dust "friend; lover;" Mid.Pers. dôst "friend;" O.Pers. dauštar- "friend;" Av. zaoša- "pleasure," zuš- "to like," zušta- "loved;" cf. Skt. jos- "to like, be pleased, enjoy," jósa- "satisfaction," jóstar- "loving;" Gk. geuomai "to taste;" L. gustare "to taste."

→ atmophile element.

→ atmo-; → phile.

In the → Goldschmidt classification, a → chemical element that is extremely → volatile, i.e., forms a gas or liquid at the surface of the Earth. The atmophile elements are usually concentrated in the terrestrial → atmosphere and → hydrosphere. They are → hydrogen (H), → carbon (C), → nitrogen (N), and → noble gas/qot>es, namely → helium (He), → neion (Ne), → argon (Ar), → krypton (Kr), → xenon (Xe), and → radon (Rn) (Pinti D.L., 2017, Atmophile Elements. In: White W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geochemistry, Springer).

→ atmophile; → element.

→ chalcophile element.

→ chalco-; → -phile.

In the → Goldschmidt classification, a → chemical element that has an → affinity for sulphur, and therefore tending to be more abundant in sulphide minerals and ores than in other types of rock. This group is depleted in the silicate Earth and may be concentrated in the core. The group includes → silver (Ag), → arsenic (As), → bismuth (Bi), → cadmium (Cd), → copper (Cu), → mercury (Hg), → indium (In), → lead (Pb), → sulfur (S), → antimony (Sb), → selenium (Se), → tellurium (Te), and → thallium (Tl). As a consequence of their relatively low condensation temperatures (500-1100 K), most of these elements are depleted in terrestrial planets with respect to chondrites.

→ chalcophile; → element.

A → microorganism with the ability to thrive in extreme environmental conditions that would kill other species. These conditions include high temperatures, very low temperatures, high pressures, high levels of radiation, and high concentrations of salt in water.

→ extreme; → -phile.

A → chemical element that is → geochemically characterized as having a strong → affinity to partition into → metals relative to → silicates. The highly siderophile elements, → ruthenium (Ru), → rhodium (Rh), → palladium (Pd), → rhenium (Re), → osmium (Os), → iridium (Ir), → platinum (Pt), and → gold (Au), are of interest to planetary scientists because they give insights into the early history of → accretion and → differentiation. HSEs prefer to reside in the metal of planetary cores. Therefore, the HSEs found in planetary → mantles are considered to be overabundant relative to their known preferences for metal over silicate. Therefore, it has been inferred that processes other than → equilibrium partitioning have been responsible for establishing the abundances of → mantle siderophiles. A detailed understanding of the absolute → concentrations and relative abundances of the HSEs may therefore give important insights into the earliest history of a planet (Jones et al., 2003, Chemical Geology 196, 21).

From Gk. sidero-, from sideros "iron" + → -phile.

Âhandust, from âhan, → iron, + -dust, → -phile.

→ lithophile element.

→ litho-; → -phile.

In the → Goldschmidt classification, a → chemical element that shows an → affinity for → silicate phases and is concentrated in the silicate portion of the Earth (→ crust and → mantle). This group includes → lithium (Li), → beryllium (Be), → sodium (Na), → magnesium (Mg), → potassium (K), → calcium (Ca), → barium (Ba), → titanium (Ti), → chromium (Cr), → aluminium (Al), → silicon (Si), → phosphorus (P), → chlorine (Cl), etc.

→ lithophile; → element.

→ siderophile element.

→ sidero-; → -phile.

In the → Goldschmidt classification, any → chemical element that has an → affinity to combine with → iron rather than some other element. These elements are concentrated in the → Earth's core. The group includes → iron (Fe), → nickle (Ni), → cobalt (Co), → platinum (Pt), → gold (Au), → tin (Zn), and → tantalum (Ta). The siderophile elements include → highly siderophile element (HSE).

→ siderophile; → element.