noun
- A small, disc-shaped plate of calcium carbonate produced by certain marine algae (coccolithophores) and found in sediments and chalk deposits.
Usage: technical; geology; marine biology
Examples
- Coccoliths are among the most abundant microfossils in ocean sediments.
- The white cliffs of Dover are composed largely of coccoliths from ancient marine organisms.
- Scientists study coccoliths to understand past ocean conditions and climate change.
- Coccoliths form the protective outer layer of coccolithophore cells.
- Under a microscope, coccoliths display intricate geometric patterns.