Geol. [f. Gr. στῦλο-ς pillar + -LITE.] (See quots.) Also attrib.
1866. Lawrence, trans. Cotta’s Rocks Classified, 99. Stylolites are a very singular formation in certain limestones, dolomites, or marls; they consist of irregular and longitudinally striped cylinders standing at right angles to the rocks’ stratification.
1882. A. Geikie, Text-bk. Geol., 313. The so-called ‘lignilites,’ ‘epsomites,’ or ‘stylolites’ … are cylindrical or columnar bodies varying in length up to more than four inches, and in diameter to two or more inches.
1888. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., XXIII. 495. The stylolite structure often seen in massive limestones.
Hence Stylolitic a., of the nature of, or containing, stylolites.
1866. Lawrence, trans. Cotta’s Rocks Classified, 289. Dolomite is seldom oolitic, slaty, fibrous, or stylolotic [sic].
