oolite

A rock consisting of spherical grains within a mineral cortex accreted around a nucleus, often of quartz grains.

Noun

  1. A rock consisting of spherical grains within a mineral cortex accreted around a nucleus, often of quartz grains.
    • Here and there are beds of oolites, for example, made of little rounded grains – like millet seed – that form only in agitated warm waters, such as you might find off the Bahamas today. - 2004, Richard Fortey, The...
  2. An ooid or oolith.

Origin

From oo- + -lite, after German Oolit.

Forms

oolites

Synonyms

ooid oolith egg-stone

Derived

oolitic oolitiferous