What is an ophiolite?
Q: What is an ophiolite?
A: An ophiolite is a section of the Earth's oceanic crust and the underlying upper mantle that has been uplifted and exposed above sea level.
Q: What type of rocks make up ophiolites?
A: The rocks which make up ophiolites are an altered form of basalt.
Q: What color are ophiolite rocks?
A: The rocks are often green.
Q: Where are ophiolites found?
A: Ophiolites are found in the mountain belts such as the Alps or the Himalayas.
Q: What do ophiolites show?
A: Ophiolites show where former ocean basins were consumed by subduction.
Q: What was one of the discoveries of plate tectonics regarding ophiolites?
A: One of the discoveries of plate tectonics was that ophiolites show where former ocean basins were consumed by subduction.
Q: What role have ophiolites played in plate tectonic theory?
A: Ophiolites have always played a central role in plate tectonic theory and the interpretation of ancient mountain belts.
