Meanings
nounkimberlite (countable and uncountable, plural kimberlites)
plural kimberlites
- countableuncountablegeographyA variety of peridotite containing a high proportion of carbon dioxide; often contains diamonds.
Some researchers think that the warming was caused as kimberlite pipes (volcanic vents originating deep in the Earth’s mantle) reached the surface near Lac de Gras in northern Canada and released huge amounts of carbon.
2018, Tim Flannery, Europe: A Natural History, page 54
Origin
From Kimberley + -ite, from the name of the South African town of Kimberley where the mineral was first found.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Greek κιμπερλίτης
- κιμπερλίτης (kimperlítis)igneous rock
Japanese キンバーライト, キンバリー岩
- キンバーライト (Kinbāraito)igneous rock
- キンバリー岩 (Kinbarīgan)igneous rock
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
kimberlite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kimberlite
MLA
“kimberlite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kimberlite. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kimberlite,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kimberlite.
Source: kimberlite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.