peridotite

noun

pe·​ri·​do·​tite pə-ˈri-də-ˌtīt How to pronounce peridotite (audio)
: any of a group of granular igneous rocks composed of ferromagnesian minerals and especially olivine
peridotitic adjective

Examples of peridotite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This movement stripped the upper crust from the rising peak, exposing swaths of its peridotite core. Quanta Magazine, 4 Jan. 2024 A bit taller than Mount Rainier, this submarine mountain is largely made of peridotite, a type of rock that dominates the upper mantle. Quanta Magazine, 4 Jan. 2024 The upper mantle below that is made up of peridotite and spans 217 miles. Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 23 June 2023 The cores are largely made of peridotite, an igneous rock made of the minerals pyroxene and olivine, that is the most common type of rock in the upper mantle, per the Washington Post. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2023 The samples aren’t pure peridotite, and that could be a key piece of evidence. Carolyn Y. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, 6 June 2023 The samples aren't pure peridotite, and that could be a key piece of evidence. Carolyn Y. Johnson, BostonGlobe.com, 6 June 2023 Before this record-breaking sample, the largest hole drilled into serpentine peridotite was only 200 meters, which was retrieved back in 1993. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 8 June 2023 Occasionally, volcanic eruptions spew out bits of it — chunks of greenish peridotite, the type of rock that dominates the upper mantle, embedded in basalt rock. Carolyn Y. Johnson, Anchorage Daily News, 6 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peridotite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French péridotite, from péridot

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peridotite was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near peridotite

Cite this Entry

“Peridotite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peridotite. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

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