batholith

bath·o·lith

B0112500 (băth′ə-lĭth′)n. A large mass of igneous rock that has melted and intruded surrounding strata at great depths.

bath′o·lith′ic adj.

batholith

(ˈbæθəlɪθ) or

batholite

n (Geological Science) a very large irregular-shaped mass of igneous rock, esp granite, formed from an intrusion of magma at great depth, esp one exposed after erosion of less resistant overlying rocks ˌbathoˈlithic, ˌbathoˈlitic adj

bath•o•lith

(ˈbæθ ə lɪθ)

n. a large body of intrusive igneous rock believed to have crystallized at a considerable depth below the earth's surface. [1900–05] bath`o•lith′ic, adj.

batholith

An immense, dome-shaped, deep-seated mass of intrusive igneous rock.

Thesaurus

Noun

batholith - large mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earthbatholite, pluton, plutonic rockgranite - plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartzigneous rock - rock formed by the solidification of molten magma

batholith

batholith,

enormous mass of intrusive igneous rock, that is, rock made of once-molten material that has solidified below the earth's surface (see rockrock,
aggregation of solid matter composed of one or more of the minerals forming the earth's crust. The scientific study of rocks is called petrology. Rocks are commonly divided, according to their origin, into three major classes—igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
..... Click the link for more information. ). Batholiths usually are granitic (see granitegranite,
coarse-grained igneous rock of even texture and light color, composed chiefly of quartz and feldspars. It usually contains small quantities of mica or hornblende, and minor accessory minerals may be present.
..... Click the link for more information. ) in composition, have steeply inclined walls, have no visible floors, and commonly extend over areas of thousands of square miles. Batholiths are formed either as one large mass or many smaller masses at great depths in the earth's crust and are exposed at the surface only after considerable erosion of the overlying mountain mass. They are commonly associated with lithospheric plate boundaries, where the interactions between plates can produce sufficient heat to melt crustal rocks on a large scale and form batholiths (see plate tectonicsplate tectonics,
theory that unifies many of the features and characteristics of continental drift and seafloor spreading into a coherent model and has revolutionized geologists' understanding of continents, ocean basins, mountains, and earth history.
..... Click the link for more information. ). One of the largest single batholiths in North America is the Coast Range batholith of W Canada and Alaska, encompassing an area of about 73,000 sq mi (182,500 sq km). Important batholiths in the United States include the Idaho batholith, 18,000 sq mi (45,000 sq km), and the Sierra Nevada batholith, 16,000 sq mi (40,000 sq km).

batholith

[′bath·ə‚lith] (geology) A body of igneous rock, 40 square miles (100 square kilometers) or more in area, emplaced at great or intermediate depth in the earth's crust.

batholith

bath·o·lith

batholith

batholite

bath•o•lith

batholith

batholith

batholith,

batholith

batholith

Synonyms for batholith

noun large mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earth

Synonyms

Related Words