pisolith Petrol.
(ˈpɪzəʊ-, ˈpaɪsəʊlɪθ)
Also † -lithe.
[f. as pisolite: see -lith.]
= pisolite b.
| 1799 Hatchett in Phil. Trans. LXXXIX. 320 The globular calcareous concretions, found at Carlsbad and other places, called Pisolithes. 1926 G. W. Tyrrell Princ. Petrol. xiii. 227 Pisoliths are essentially similar to ooliths, but reach much larger sizes, and are generally found in residual deposits. 1938 M. Black Hatch & Rastall's Petrol. Sedimentary Rocks (ed. 3) viii. 176 Cave pearls are pisoliths, sometimes of large size, found in the underground waters of limestone caves. 1947 Jrnl. Sedimentary Petrol. XVII. 39 (heading) Pisoliths and ooliths from some Australian caves and mines. Ibid. 43/1 In pools full of pisoliths and ooliths, the larger ones (around 20 mm. long) occur at the top. 1975 Nature 20 Nov. 206/1 It lies under a thin but persistent weathered horizon which has a patchy distribution and is characterised by ferruginous pisoliths. |
Hence pisoˈlithic a.
| 1863 Sullivan & O'Reilly Notes Geol. & Mineral. of Santander & Madrid i. iv. 91 The hydrocarbonate of zinc also occurs perfectly globular, some specimens being beautifully pisolithic. 1947 Jrnl. Sedimentary Petrol. XVII. 39 Calcareous concretions, principally of the pisolithic type. |