biolithn.
/ˈbʌɪəlɪθ/, U.S. /ˈbaɪəˌlɪθ/ Geology.
Originally: a rock of organic origin; spec. one composed of the remains of living organisms or produced by the activity of such organisms. In later use also: a mineralized particle of animal or plant origin, found in soil, rock, etc. (cf. phytolith n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > concretion or petrifaction > [noun] > specific
wood-stone1794
shell rock1807
petrified forest1830
biolith1852
dogger1876
spongolite1945
1852 Canada Med. Jrnl. & Monthly Rec. Med. & Surg. Sci. 1 436 Many of them are mixed or pure tripolitan fresh water bioliths—i. e. species of earths or stones, the elements of which consist chiefly of remnants of microscopic living beings.
1906 H. Potonié in Rep. Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 748 I set aside those combustible biolithes which are pyromonimites, such as amber.
1920 A. W. Grabau Textbk. Geol. (1921) i. xii. 269 The organic or biogenic rocks... The true organic rocks are conveniently termed bioliths.
1961 J. Challinor Dict. Geol. 23/1 Where the biolith is a more or less extensive bed it is sometimes called a ‘biostrome’.
1971 Geoderma 5 274 In the A-horizon bioliths (phytoliths) occur.
2003 Chem. Geol. 200 269/2 Diatoms and sponge spicules are the most prominent bioliths in freshwater mire systems.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1852