dunite

American  

[doo-nahyt, duhn-ahyt] / ˈdu naɪt, ˈdʌn aɪt /

noun

1. a coarse-grained igneous rock composed almost entirely of olivine.

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dunite British  

/ ˈdʌnaɪt /

noun

1. an ultrabasic igneous rock consisting mainly of olivine

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dunite Scientific  

/ do̅o̅′nīt′,dŭn′īt′ /

1. A coarse-grained igneous rock that consists mainly of olivine.

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Etymology

Origin of dunite

1865–70; named after Mt. Dun in New Zealand, where it is found; see -ite ¹

Example Sentences

These included gypsum, carbonates, basalts, dunite, and anorthosite.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2026

Previous research suggests that dunite powder could one day be spread on croplands in a variety of geographic regions and be used to mitigate climate change in places such as India and Brazil.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2022

When the scientists soaked dunite in carbonized water, the minerals created reduced the rocks’ permeability at first.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2022

The research involved dunite, a coarse, dense type of igneous rock named after a mountain in New Zealand.

From Washington Post • Feb. 13, 2022

The Ural Mountain deposits of Russia are gold- and platinum-bearing placers, in streams which drain areas of dunite rock containing minute quantities of native platinum.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)