Definition of kimberlite in English:
kimberlite
noun ˈkɪmbəlʌɪtˈkimbərˌlīt
mass nounGeology A rare, blue-tinged, coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock sometimes containing diamonds, found in South Africa and Siberia.
Also called blue ground
Example sentencesExamples
- It was suggested by some readers that the matrix for the featured diamond crystal from the Jagersfontein mine looked suspiciously like the rock eclogite rather than kimberlite.
- Lamproite is also a mantle-derived ultramafic rock that differs from kimberlite in bulk chemistry, being richer in silicon and poorer in aluminum and iron.
- Diamond is obtained from volcanic pipes composed of kimberlite or lamproite, rocks that are found only in cratons, very old stable areas of the Earth's crust.
- Aggressive exploration has confirmed the presence of diamond-bearing kimberlite pipes scattered over a considerable area extending into adjoining Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nunavut.
- So Rankin Inlet wasn't surprised when prospectors exploring the area recently announced a promising find of kimberlite, a volcanic rock that often contains diamonds, 20 km from town.
Origin
Late 19th century: from Kimberley + -ite1.