1. A section of oceanic crust and upper mantle rock that has been uplifted and exposed on land, typically consisting of layers of basalt, gabbro, and peridotite.
Usage: geology; technical

Examples

• Geologists studied the ophiolite sequence to understand the structure of ancient ocean floors.
• The Troodos ophiolite in Cyprus provides a well-preserved example of oceanic crust.
• Ophiolites are key evidence for plate tectonics and continental drift.
• The mountain range contains exposed ophiolite complexes from a vanished ocean basin.
• Researchers examined the mineral composition of the ophiolite to determine its age.