noun
- the process by which a lighter, more buoyant rock or mineral material rises through denser overlying rock, often forming a dome or piercing structure
Usage: geology; technical
Examples
- Salt diapirism has shaped the subsurface structure of the Gulf of Mexico basin.
- The geologist studied diapirism to understand how salt domes formed beneath the sedimentary layers.
- Diapirism occurs when buoyant material pushes upward through the surrounding rock.
- The petroleum engineer examined diapirism patterns to locate potential oil and gas traps.
- Magmatic diapirism can lead to the formation of granite intrusions in the continental crust.