kimberlite

American

[kim-ber-lahyt] / ˈkɪm bərˌlaɪt /

noun

Petrology. a variety of micaceous peridotite, low in silica content and high in magnesium content, in which diamonds are formed.

kimberlite British

/ ˈkɪmbəˌlaɪt /

noun

an intrusive igneous rock generated at great depth in the earth's mantle and consisting largely of olivine and phlogopite. It often contains diamonds

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

kimberlite Scientific

/ kĭm′bər-līt′ /

A type of peridotite consisting of a fine-grained matrix of calcite and olivine and containing phenocrysts of olivine, garnet, and sometimes diamonds. Kimberlites are found in long, vertical volcanic pipes, especially in South Africa.

Etymology

Origin of kimberlite

1885–90; named after Kimberley, South Africa; see -ite ¹

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Kimberlite eruptions start near the cratonic roots, at least 75 miles underground, and race upward at tens of feet per second — a fiery fury driven by an abundance of carbon dioxide and water.

From New York Times • Jul. 26, 2023

Racehorse owners are allowed to attend and leading owner JP McManus has seven contenders, including Minella Times, Any Second Now and Kimberlite Candy.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2021

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023