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laccolith
[ lak-uh-lith ]
noun
, Geology.
- a mass of igneous rock formed from magma that did not find its way to the surface but spread laterally into a lenticular body, forcing overlying strata to bulge upward.
laccolith
/ lăk′ə-lĭth′ /
- A body of igneous rock intruded between layers of sedimentary rock, resulting in uplift. Laccoliths are usually plano-convex in cross-section, having a flat bottom and a convex top, and are roughly circular in plan. They are usually connected to a dike and are typically up to 8 km (5 mi) in diameter and tens to hundreds of meters thick.
- See illustration at batholith
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Derived Forms
- ˌlaccoˈlithic, adjective
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Other Words From
- lacco·lithic lac·co·lit·ic [lak-, uh, -, lit, -ik], adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of laccolith1
1875–80; < Greek lákko ( s ) pond + -lith
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Word History and Origins
Origin of laccolith1
C19: from Greek lakkos cistern + -lith
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