peridotite
[per-i-doh-tahyt, puh-rid-uh-tahyt]
- a coarsely granular igneous rock composed chiefly of olivine with an admixture of various other minerals.
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Origin of peridotite
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for peridotite
Historical Examples
Chromite is a common minor constituent of basic igneous rocks of the peridotite and pyroxenite type.
The Economic Aspect of GeologyC. K. Leith
In this locality the original rock is a peridotite, relatively low in nickel, which has been altered to serpentine.
The Economic Aspect of GeologyC. K. Leith
In Georgia the asbestos, which is anthophyllite, occurs in lenticular masses in peridotite associated with gneiss.
The Economic Aspect of GeologyC. K. Leith
Small diamonds have been found in peridotite masses in Pike County, Arkansas, but these are of very little commercial value.
The Economic Aspect of GeologyC. K. Leith
Most of these occur along with troctolites, norites, serpentine and peridotite.
peridotite
- a dark coarse-grained ultrabasic plutonic igneous rock consisting principally of olivine
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Word Origin
C19: from French, from peridot
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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peridotite
[pĕr′ĭ-dō-tīt′, pə-rĭd′ə-]
- A coarse-grained igneous rock that consists mainly of olivine and pyroxene. It is believed to be one of the main constituent rocks of the Earth's mantle.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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