See Also: ophiolite(dictionary)

ophiolite (iou)



ophiolite noun. M19.
[from OPHIO- + -LITE.]
Serpentine; an ornamental marble containing this; verd-antique. Now rare. M19.
Geology. Any of a group of basic and ultrabasic igneous rocks consisting largely of serpentine and thought to have been formed from the submarine eruption of oceanic crustal and upper mantle material. M19.
Comb.: ophiolite association suite Geology an assemblage of ophiolites, pillow lava, and radiolarian chert occurring in a characteristic pattern of layers in the Alps and elsewhere.
ophio'litic adjective E20.