serpentinite

American  

[sur-puhn-tin-ahyt] / ˈsɜr pən tɪnˌaɪt /

noun

plural

serpentinites

1. Geology. a metamorphic rock with a primary composition of serpentine and related minerals.

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serpentinite Scientific  

/ sər-pĕn′tə-nīt′ /

1. A metamorphic rock consisting almost entirely of minerals in the serpentine group. Serpentinite forms from the alteration of ferromagnesian silicate materials, such as olivine and pyroxene, during metamorphism.

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Other Word Forms

• serpentinitic adjective

Example Sentences

One common reaction is called serpentinization, because it converts olivine into another kind of mineral called serpentinite.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 15, 2023

Rise says that's not a concern since there will be very little serpentinite in the waste rock.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2022

“I honor the right of every nation in this room to pursue its own customs, beliefs, and traditions,” Trump said, from the lofty green serpentinite rostrum overlooking the General Assembly.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 25, 2018

This process creates a marbleized rock that the ancient Romans called verde antico, or what geologists like Klein call serpentinite.

From Scientific American • Feb. 12, 2018

Hydrothermal alteration of mafic mantle rock, such as olivine and basalt, creates the metamorphic rock serpentinite, a member of the serpentine subgroup of minerals.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017