geologia: Peridotite

Some of the xenoliths preserve isotope ratios of osmium and other elements that record processes that occurred when Earth was formed, and so they are of special interest to paleogeologists because they provide clues to the early composition of Earth's upper mantle and the complexities of the processes that occurred.

Peridotite (US: PERR-ih-doh-tyte, pə-RID-ə-) is a dense, phaneritic (coarse-grained) igneous rock consisting mostly of the silicate minerals olivine and pyroxene. Peridotite is ultramafic, as the rock contains less than 45% silica. It is high in magnesium (Mg2+), reflecting the high proportions of magnesium-rich olivine, with appreciable iron. Peridotite is derived from Earth's mantle, either as solid blocks and fragments, or as crystals accumulated from magmas that formed in the mantle. The compositions of peridotites from these layered igneous complexes vary widely, reflecting the relative proportions of pyroxenes, chromite, plagioclase, and amphibole. Peridotite is the dominant rock of the upper part of Earth's mantle. The compositions of peridotite xenoliths found in certain basalts are of special interest along with kimberlite pipe (kimberlite), because they provide samples of Earth's mantle brought up from depths ranging from about 30 km to 200 km or more. Some of the xenoliths preserve isotope ratios of osmium and other elements that record processes that occurred when Earth was formed, and so they are of special interest to paleogeologists because they provide clues to the…

Kategoria: geologia

Rodzina: geologia

Jakość źródła: 65/100

Próby weryfikacji: 0

Notatka fact-checku: Verification queue initialized; Fact-check 2.50+ owns subsequent state transitions.