A type of fine-grained metamorphic rock formed from the alteration of diabase under moderate pressure and temperature.
From dia- (through) + Greek abantis, possibly referring to the Abantes tribe, combined with -ite (mineral/rock suffix). Modern geological term created in the 19th century.
Diabantite shows how geologists sometimes named minerals after obscure historical references—the Abantes were an ancient Greek tribe, yet their name ended up describing metamorphic rocks formed millions of years after they existed.
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