biolith

English

Etymology

bio- + -lith

Noun

biolith (plural bioliths)

1. (petrology) A rock or other geological feature formed by living organisms.
   • 1915, David Holde, Edward Meuller, The examination of hydrocarbon oils and of saponifiable fats and waxes^[1], page 7:

     By extraction of a combustible biolith with different solvents, Holde was able to obtain as much as 7.7 percent of fatty, wax-like or colophony-like bodies.

   • 1955, Roger Van Vloten, Geology of the border region between Coaluila and Zacatecas, Mexico^[2], page 141:

     The third theory which was advanced to explain the formation of phosphorites is the classical biolith hypothesis.

   • 2001, Alina Kabata-Pendias, Henryk Pendias, Trace elements in soils and plants^[3], page 144:

     Under conditions of strong oxidation, Cd is likely to form minerals (CdO, CdCO₃) and is also likely to be accumulated in phosphate and in biolith deposits.

Derived terms

• liptobiolith