A plutonic rock of the peridotite group consisting largely of orthopyroxene and olivine.
‘The peridotite is dominantly serpentinized harzburgite, ranging from fresh to 70% altered, with minor pyroxenite, dunite and chromite pods.’
‘The lowermost rocks are serpentinized dunite and harzburgite, which are best exposed in the NE of the ophiolite.’
‘Stratigraphically from bottom to top it is composed of sheared serpentinite on the basal thrust, layered harzburgitedunite, layered dunite with chromitite, and harzburgite with finegrained gabbro.’
‘We have mapped the entire Spontang ophiolite region where we recognize a complete upper mantle sequence of harzburgite and crustal gabbroic, sheeted dykes and pillow lava succession.’
‘In the Herbeira massif the same harzburgite dominates the east side of the Trans-Herbeira Fault, but in its western outcrop it is only present at the cliffbase in the NW and SW corners.’
Origin
Late 19th century from Harzburg, the name of a town in Germany, + -ite.
Are You Learning English? Here Are Our Top English Tips