Ultramafic rock composed of olivine and clinopyroxene without orthopyroxene. Found in layered intrusions. Texture: Phaneritic. Rock type: Igneous Intrusive. Grain size: Coarse. Minerals present: Olivine, Clinopyroxene. Formation: Forms as cumulate layers in layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions. Common geological settings: Found in layered intrusions and some ophiolite complexes. Common look-alikes and related entries: Dunite, Peridotite, Pyroxenite.
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.
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GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:39:09.715802+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
Rocks — U.S. National Park Service. Authoritative overview of rock groups, the rock cycle, and geologic processes.
Ultramafic rock composed of olivine and clinopyroxene without orthopyroxene. Found in layered intrusions.
How can you identify Wehrlite?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records rock type: Igneous Intrusive; texture: Phaneritic; grain size: Coarse; common minerals: Olivine, Clinopyroxene. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Wehrlite form?
Forms as cumulate layers in layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions.
Where is Wehrlite commonly found?
Found in layered intrusions and some ophiolite complexes.
What is Wehrlite commonly confused with?
Wehrlite may be confused with Dunite, Peridotite, Pyroxenite. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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