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 found that in some areas of Preseli, a gray or black intrusive igneous rock known as diabase or dolerite, one of the types found at Stonehenge, produced a sound like a metallic bell when struck.

From New York Times

Like Stonehenge, the Pennsylvania site is filled with diabase rocks, which are abundant in iron and magnesium and spent about 170 million years below ground before rising to the surface and cooling.

From New York Times

In July 2013, the researchers received permission to test the handful of diabase rocks there for similar attributes.

From New York Times

At St Andreasberg in the Harz it occurs both in diabase and in the veins of silver ore.

From Project Gutenberg

The great igneous masses of Tro�dos, &c., consisting of diabase, basalt and serpentine, are of later date.

From Project Gutenberg