1972年,在彭罗斯会议上,将蛇绿岩定义为一套层状非地层单元,并明确列出其完整的层序。然而,在后来的研究中发现,不同的地球动力学背景和构造运动可导致产出的蛇绿岩在结构上和地球化学上体现出复杂的多样性,而这种多样性已经超出了蛇绿岩经典定义的范畴。一些学者开始研究和完善前人对蛇绿岩的研究,并得出一个全新的定义和分类方案,不仅覆盖了现已发现的所有蛇绿岩类型,更重要的是,它阐明了蛇绿岩形成的根本原理,并指出在威尔逊旋回的各个阶段都会形成性质不同的蛇绿岩。
The basic tenet of the 1972 Penrose definition is that an ideal ophiolites has a layer--cake pseudostratigraphy with whole and specific sequence. However, consequent studies have found that the structures and geochemical features of ophiolites are variable due to different geodynamic settings and tectonic processes involved in its formation. The diversity is obviously beyond the typical definition of ophiolites. Continuous researches were conducted thereafter, and a new definition and classification of the ophiolites have been put forward based on decades of studies, covering all kinds of ophiolites found. Moreover, the new research findings explain the hypostasis of ophiolite formation, and points out that there will be diverse ophiolites in Wilson cycle.