peridotite

per·i·do·tite

P0192500 (pĕr′ĭ-dō-tīt′, pə-rĭd′ə-)n. Any of various coarse-grained igneous rocks that consist mainly of olivine and pyroxene and are believed to be a main constituent of the earth's mantle.

peridotite

(ˌpɛrɪˈdəʊtaɪt) n (Minerals) a dark coarse-grained ultrabasic plutonic igneous rock consisting principally of olivine[C19: from French, from peridot] peridotitic adj

per•i•do•tite

(ˈpɛr ɪˌdoʊ taɪt, pəˈrɪd əˌtaɪt)

n. a coarsely granular igneous rock composed chiefly of olivine admixed with various other minerals. [1895–1900; < French; see peridot, -ite¹] per`i•do•tit′ic (-ˈtɪt ɪk) adj.

peridotite

A coarse-grained igneous rock, mainly of olivine and pyroxene, such as dunite.

Thesaurus

Noun

peridotite - a dark coarse-grained igneous rock consisting principally of olivineigneous rock - rock formed by the solidification of molten magmakimberlite - a rare type of peridotite that sometimes contains diamonds; found in South Africa and Siberia

peridotite

(pĕr'ēdō`tīt): see olivineolivine
, an iron-magnesium silicate mineral, (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄, crystallizing in the orthorhombic system. It is a common constituent of magnesium-rich, silica-poor igneous rocks; metamorphism of some high magnesium sediments also can form olivine.
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Peridotite

an ultrabasic intrusive rock that is chiefly composed of olivine and pyroxene and sometimes contains hornblende. The olivine and pyroxene contents range from 70 to 30 percent and 30 to 70 percent, respectively; peridotite also contains 40 to 46 percent SiO₂ and 34 to 46 percent MgO. Among the accessory minerals found in peridotite are magnetite, ilmen-ite, pyrrhotite, chromite, spinel, and garnet. In addition, peridotite sometimes contains platinum and certain nickel minerals.

Peridotite’s color is dark, usually green or greenish gray. When it is highly serpentinized with olivine and pyroxenes, it alters to serpentinite. Peridotite in combination with orthorhombic pyroxene is called saxonite, or harzburgite; with monoclinic pyroxene, wehrlite; and with both rhombic and monoclinic pyroxene, websterite, or lhertzolite. Peridotite in association with other ultrabasic and with basic rocks forms extensive belts and zones that are characterized by deposits of commercial minerals, including chromite, platinum ores, silicate nickel ores, chrysotile asbestos, and talc.

peridotite

[pə′rid·ə‚tīt] (petrology) A dark-colored, ultrabasic phaneritic igneous rock composed largely of olivine, with smaller amounts of pyroxene or hornblende.

peridotite

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peridotite

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peridotite

peridotite

Peridotite

peridotite

peridotite

Words related to peridotite

noun a dark coarse-grained igneous rock consisting principally of olivine

Related Words