Batholithic is a term used in geology to describe a large mass of igneous rock that has solidified deep within the Earth’s crust. This article aims to provide a comprehensive definition and meaning of batholithic, its origin, associations, synonyms, antonyms, and example sentences.
Definitions
A batholith is a mass of rock that has formed deep within the Earth’s crust by the solidification of magma. It is often composed of granite or other coarse-grained rocks and can cover large areas of land. Batholiths are typically found in mountainous regions and are often associated with the formation of volcanoes.
Origin
The term batholith comes from the Greek words “bathos” meaning depth, and “lithos” meaning rock. It was first used in 1900 by the American geologist J. S. Diller to describe a large intrusive body of granite in California.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, batholithic means “relating to or denoting a large mass of igneous rock formed beneath the Earth’s surface and exposed by erosion.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “a large mass of intrusive igneous rock believed to have solidified deep within the earth.”
Associations
Batholiths are often associated with the formation of mountain ranges and can be found in many parts of the world, including the Sierra Nevada in California, the Andes in South America, and the Himalayas in Asia. They are also important sources of minerals such as gold, silver, and copper.
Synonyms
Some synonyms of batholithic include plutonic, intrusive, and igneous.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms of batholithic, but the term can be contrasted with volcanic, which refers to rocks that have formed from lava flows on the Earth’s surface.
The same root words
Batholithic is derived from the Greek words “bathos” meaning depth, and “lithos” meaning rock. Other words derived from the same root include bathymetry (the measurement of ocean depths), bathysphere (a deep-sea diving vessel), and lithography (a printing process that involves etching a design onto a flat stone surface).
Example Sentences
- The Sierra Nevada mountain range in California is made up of a series of batholiths.
- The geologist studied the batholithic rock formations to better understand the Earth’s crust.
- The mining company extracted gold from the batholith that was discovered deep beneath the ground.
- The batholithic rock was so hard that it took heavy machinery to break it down into smaller pieces.