di·o·rite (d   -rt )n. Any of various dark, granite-textured, crystalline rocks rich in plagioclase and having little quartz. [French, from Greek diorizein, to distinguish : dia-, apart, between; see dia- + horizein, to divide, limit; see horizon.] di o·ritic (-r tk) adj. |
diorite [ˈdaɪəˌraɪt]
n
(Earth Sciences / Minerals) a dark coarse-grained igneous plutonic rock consisting of plagioclase feldspar and ferromagnesian minerals such as hornblende
[from French, from Greek diorizein to distinguish (from dia- apart + horizein to define) + -ite1]
dioritic [ˌdaɪəˈrɪtɪk] adj
| diorite (d-rt) A gray, coarse-grained plutonic rock. Diorite consists mainly of sodium-rich plagioclase and one or more mafic minerals such as biotite, hornblende, or pyroxene. It is the coarse-grained equivalent of andesite. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  diorite - a granular crystalline intrusive rockigneous rock - rock formed by the solidification of molten magma |
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