Editing Diabase (section)

{{Short description|Type of igneous rock}}
[[File:Polished Diabase.jpg|thumb|Diabase]]
{{wikt | diabase}}

'''Diabase''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|aɪ|.|ə|ˌ|b|eɪ|s}}), also called '''dolerite''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɒ|l|.|ə|ˌ|r|aɪ|t}}) or '''microgabbro''',<ref name="Microgabbro">
{{cite web
 |url= http://www.bgs.ac.uk/bgsrcs/rcs_details.cfm?code=DOLR
 |title= BGS Rock Classification Scheme - Dolerite (Synonymous with Microgabbro)
 |publisher= British Geological Survey |access-date= 24 August 2015
}}
</ref> is a [[mafic]], [[holocrystalline]], [[subvolcanic rock]] equivalent to [[volcanic]] [[basalt]] or [[pluton]]ic [[gabbro]]. Diabase [[Dike (geology)|dike]]s and [[Sill (geology)|sill]]s are typically shallow intrusive bodies and often exhibit fine-grained to [[aphanitic]] [[chilled margin]]s which may contain [[tachylite]] (dark mafic glass).

''Diabase'' is the preferred name in North America, while ''dolerite'' is the preferred name in the rest of the English-speaking world, where sometimes the name ''diabase'' refers to altered dolerites and basalts. Some geologists prefer to avoid confusion by using the name ''microgabbro''.

The name ''diabase'' comes from the French {{Lang|fr|diabase}}, and ultimately from the Greek {{Lang|el|διάβασις}} {{transliteration|el|diábasis}} 'act of crossing over, transition',<ref>{{oed|diabase}}</ref> whereas the name ''dolerite'' comes from the French {{Lang|fr|dolérite}}, from the Greek {{lang|el|δολερός}} {{transliteration|el|dolerós}} 'deceitful, deceptive', because it was easily confused with [[diorite]].