diabase

[ dahy-uh-beys ]

noun

, Petrology.

1. a fine-grained gabbro occurring as minor intrusions.
2. British. a dark igneous rock consisting essentially of augite and feldspar; an altered dolerite.

diabase

/ ˈdaɪəˌbeɪs /

noun

1. an altered dolerite
2. another name for dolerite

diabase

/ dī′ə-bās′ /

1. A dark-gray to black, medium-grained igneous rock consisting mainly of labradorite and pyroxene. Diabase is compositionally similar to andesite, but has coarser grains. It is commonly found in sills and dikes.
2. Also called dolerite

Derived Forms

• ˌdiaˈbasic, adjective

Other Words From

• dia·basic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diabase¹

1810–20; < French, equivalent to dia- (error for di- two) + base base ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of diabase¹

C19: from French, from Greek diabasis a crossing over, from diabainein to cross over, from dia- + bainein to go

Example Sentences

They are holocrystalline in form and true glassy bases are rare, rendering the term diabase more appropriate than basalt.

From Project Gutenberg

While the diabase dikes are most prominent in the Newark rocks, they are also found occasionally in the other terraces.

From Project Gutenberg

The diabase occurs only as an intrusive rock in the vicinity of the Catoctin Belt.

From Project Gutenberg

None the less, its origin as diabase can definitely be asserted of the whole mass.

From Project Gutenberg

Dynamic alteration of the Catoctin diabase is pronounced and wide-spread.

From Project Gutenberg