batholith

Thân thiện

A batholith forms the core of a mountain range.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A large mass of intrusive igneous rock: A batholith is a geological formation consisting of a massive, dome-shaped body of igneous rock that has crystallized from magma cooling slowly deep below the Earth's surface. It is typically composed of coarse-grained rocks like granite and is exposed only after extensive erosion of the overlying material.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The Sierra Nevada mountain range is famous for its extensive granite batholith.
  • Geologists study the batholith to understand the region's volcanic history.

Advanced Usage

• Formation Context: The term is used when discussing plutonic geology and the emplacement of magma within the continental crust.
  • The batholith formed during the Mesozoic era, intruding into the older sedimentary layers.

Variants and Related Words

• Batholithic (adj): Of or relating to a batholith.
  • The batholithic structure underlies the entire province.
• Pluton (n): A general term for any body of intrusive igneous rock. A batholith is the largest type of pluton.
• Stock (n): A smaller, similar intrusive body with a surface exposure of less than 100 square kilometers.

Synonyms

• Pluton (specifically a large one)
• Deep-seated intrusion

Notes on Meaning

• The key characteristics are its large size (exposed surface area over 100 square kilometers), intrusive origin (formed underground), and igneous composition. It is not a single event but often a complex amalgamation of multiple intrusions.

Học thuật

Noun

1. large mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earth

Từ đồng nghĩa

• batholite
• pluton
• plutonic rock