Ophiolite

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A rare geological formation representing fragments of oceanic crust and upper mantle rock, often found in mountainous regions
2. This complex assembly entails the uplift of peridotite and related ocean floor materials, revealing crustal layers
3. A specific type of geological assemblage characterized by the exposure of oceanic lithosphere materials, which includes peridotite and other mantle rocks, typically situated within orogeny regions

Etymology: Ophiolites get their name from snakes. The Greek "ophis" means "serpent," and "-lite" comes from Greek "lithos," meaning "stone," so the term literally means "serpent-stone." The name refers to the green, mottled surface of serpentinized peridotite, whose scaly texture resembles snake skin. The combining form "-lite" is the standard suffix for rock names, so the word is a plain compound built from two Greek elements rather than a single inherited term. It was coined to label a recognizable rock assemblage, and its meaning stays close to its parts: a stone that looks like a serpent.