OPHIOLITE Meaning and
Definition
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An ophiolite is a distinctive assemblage of rock formations that is found in the Earth's oceanic crust and upper mantle. It is typically composed of three main components: a sheeted dike complex, a layered gabbroic complex, and ultramafic rocks. Ophiolites are considered to be fragments or remnants of former oceanic lithosphere that have been preserved and emplaced onto continental crust during tectonic processes, usually by obduction.
The sheeted dike complex is a sequence of relatively thin, vertically oriented rock layers that are comprised of basaltic and basaltic-andesitic dikes formed due to the injection of magma into fractures within the oceanic crust. The layered gabbroic complex consists of gabbroic rocks that are crystalline in nature and formed as intrusions within the lower oceanic crust. Ultramafic rocks, such as peridotites and serpentinites, are also commonly found in ophiolites and represent the upper mantle portion of the former oceanic lithosphere.
Ophiolites are significant geological formations as they provide valuable insights into the processes that occur below the Earth's surface, particularly in regards to the formation and evolution of oceanic crust. They are often used as natural laboratories for studying plate tectonic processes and the generation of magmatic rocks. Additionally, ophiolites serve as key indicators for past episodes of subduction, collision, and crustal growth in areas where they have been emplaced onto the continental crust.
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Green porphyry or serpentine.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for OPHIOLITE
Etymology of OPHIOLITE
The word ophiolite is derived from two Greek words: ophis, meaning serpent, and lithos, meaning stone or rock.
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