ophioliticadj.
/ˌɒfɪəˈlɪtɪk/, U.S. /ˈˌɑfioʊˈlɪdɪk/, /ˈˌoʊfioʊˈlɪdɪk/ Geology.
Of, relating to, or composed of ophiolite (ophiolite n. 2).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > constituent materials > rock > igneous rock > [adjective] > hypabyssal > varieties of
ophiolitic1909
picritic1931
1909 H. B. C. Sollas & W. J. Sollas tr. E. Suess Face of Earth IV. v. 153 The sheet of the green-rocks (Ophiolitic, Rhaetic, Vindelician sheet; Steinmann).
1911 Geol. Mag. 8 243 The constant association of dialase (spilite), serpentine, and gabbro in the northern Alps with radiolarian cherts has led Steinmann..to regard these ‘ophiolitic eruptives’ as the typical volcanic rocks of abysmal depressions.
1963 D. W. Humphries & E. E. Humphries tr. H. Termier & G. Termier Erosion & Sedimentation xvii. 341 Radiolarites associated with the rocks of the ophiolitic suite (of geosynclines), demonstrate the subordinate role of living organisms in comparison to that played by transported material.
1971 Nature 3 Sept. 46/2 One of the most significant drilling results..was the discovery of a Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic pelagic sequence above an ophiolitic oceanic basement.
1995 Mineral. Mag. 59 136 A similar feature was observed in chlorites from the..Troodos metavolcanic rocks..and from the Point Sal ophiolitic metabasalt.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1909