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Peridotite identification and geology

A coarse-grained ultramafic intrusive igneous rock composed primarily of olivine 40% with subordinate pyroxene and minor amounts of garnet, spinel, or plagioclase. Peridotite is the dominant rock type of the Earth's upper mantle and is brought to the surface as xenoliths in kimberlite pipes and as tectonically emplaced ophiolite sequences. When hydrated by metamorphism, peridotite transforms to serpentinite. Field: petrology. Example: The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, are a rare surface exposure of mantle peridotite, part of an ophiolite complex thrust onto the continental margin during the Ordovician Taconic orogeny.. Related terms: Olivine, Ultramafic, Mantle, Serpentinite.

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.055955+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Peridotite mean in geology?
A coarse-grained ultramafic intrusive igneous rock composed primarily of olivine 40% with subordinate pyroxene and minor amounts of garnet, spinel, or plagioclase. Peridotite is the dominant rock type of the Earth's upper mantle and is brought to the surface as xenoliths in kimberlite pipes and as tectonically emplaced ophiolite sequences. When hydrated by metamorphism, peridotite transforms to serpentinite.
What is an example of Peridotite?
The Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, are a rare surface exposure of mantle peridotite, part of an ophiolite complex thrust onto the continental margin during the Ordovician Taconic orogeny.
Which earth-science field uses the term Peridotite?
Peridotite is used in petrology.
Which terms are related to Peridotite?
Related terms in this reference are Olivine, Ultramafic, Mantle, Serpentinite.

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