tholeiite
English edit
Etymology edit
From German Tholeiit, from Tholei (“a village in western Germany”).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
tholeiite (plural tholeiites)
- (geology) An igneous basaltic rock, formed from magma rich in magnesium and iron.
- 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 51n:
- Correctly speaking, Hawaiian basalt is not just basalt, but is a special variety enriched in silica known as tholeiite.