1. a body of rock material that has risen through overlying strata, typically due to differences in density or pressure, forming an intrusion or dome-like structure.
Usage: geology; technical

Examples

• The salt diapir pushed upward through the sedimentary layers over millions of years.
• Geologists identified a diapir of lighter rock material beneath the surface.
• The formation of the diapir created a dome structure visible in seismic surveys.
• Salt diapirs are common features in basins with thick evaporite deposits.
• The diapir's rise was driven by buoyancy differences between the rock types.