A lava lamp illustrates the basic principle of diapirism.

A diapir (IPA: [ˈdaɪpɪɹ] [1]) (French, from Greek diapeirein, to pierce through) is an intrusion caused by buoyancy and pressure differentials. Diapirs may include igneous structures, but are more commonly applied to non-igneous, relatively cold materials, such as salt domes and mud diapirs; diapirism is thought to occur on Enceladus. A diapir is any relatively mobile mass that intrudes into preexisting strata. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 216 KB) Summary Lava Lamp in the Dark Author: Aaron Kuhn Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Lava lamp Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1536x2048, 216 KB) Summary Lava Lamp in the Dark Author: Aaron Kuhn Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Lava lamp Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create... Copper Crestworth Coach Lanter Lava Lamp A lava lamp is a novelty item typically used for decoration rather than illumination. ... For information on how to read IPA transcriptions of English words see here. ... Devils Tower, an igneous intrusion exposed when the surrounding softer rock eroded away. ... Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. ... A salt dome is formed when a thick bed of evaporite minerals (mainly salt, or halite) found at depth intrudes vertically into surrounding rock strata, forming a diapir. ... [5] Atmospheric characteristics Pressure trace, significant spatial variability [6], [7] Water vapour 91% [8] Carbon dioxide 3. ...

Diapirs commonly intrude vertically upward along fractures or zones of structural weakness through more dense overlying rocks because of density contrast between a less dense, lower rock mass and overlying denser rocks. The density contrast manifests as a force of buoyancy. The process is known as diapirism. The resulting structures are also referred to as piercement structures. In physics, Density is defined as mass m per unit volume V. Mathematically, it is expressed as where, in SI units: ρ (rho) is the density of the substance, measured in kg m-3 m is the mass of the substance, measured in kg v is the volume of the substance... In physics, Density is defined as mass m per unit volume V. Mathematically, it is expressed as where, in SI units: ρ (rho) is the density of the substance, measured in kg m-3 m is the mass of the substance, measured in kg v is the volume of the substance... In physics, buoyancy is the upward force on an object produced by the surrounding fluid (i. ...

In the process, segments of the existing strata can be disconnected and pushed upwards. While moving higher, they retain much of their original properties such as pressure, which can be significantly different from that of the shallower strata they get pushed into. Such overpressured Floaters pose a significant risk when trying to drill through them. Well drilling is the process of drilling a hole in the ground either for exploration of the nature of the material underground or for the extraction of a natural resource such as water, natural gas, or petroleum. ...

Rock types such as evaporitic salt deposits, and gas charged muds are potential sources of diapirs. Diapirs also form in the earth's mantle when a sufficient mass of hot, less dense magma assembles. Diapirism in the mantle is thought to be associated with the development of large igneous provinces and some mantle plumes. A sample of evaporite material Evaporites (IPA: ) are water-soluble, mineral sediments that result from the evaporation of bodies of surficial water. ... Earth cutaway from core to exosphere. ... A large igneous province (LIP) is an extensive region of basalts resulting from flood basalt volcanism. ... A lava lamp illustrates the basic concept of a mantle plume. ...

Explosive, hot volatile rich magma or volcanic eruptions are referred to generally as diatremes. Diatremes are not usually associated with diapirs, as they are small-volume magmas which ascend by volatile plumes, not by density contrast with the surrounding mantle. Look up volatile in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Magma is molten rock located beneath the surface of the Earth (or any other rocky planet), and which often collects in a magma chamber. ... A Diatreme is a volcanic pipe or feature formed by a gas or volatile rich explosive magma. ...

Economic importance of diapirs

Diapirs or piercement structures are structures resulting from the penetration of overlaying material. By pushing upward and piercing overlying rock layers, diapirs can form anticlines, salt domes and other structures capable of trapping petroleum and natural gas. Igneous intrusions themselves are typically too hot to allow the preservation of preexisting hydrocarbons. Anticline with syncline visible at far right- USGS In structural geology, an anticline is a Fold (geology) that is convex to the youngest beds—youngest sediments are on back of hand, older under the palm. ... A salt dome is formed when a thick bed of evaporite minerals (mainly salt, or halite) found at depth intrudes vertically into surrounding rock strata, forming a diapir. ... Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario Ignacy Łukasiewicz - inventor of the refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... Natural gas is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane but including significant quantities of ethane, butane, propane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium and hydrogen sulfide. ... Hydrocarbons are refined at oil refineries and processed at chemical plants A hydrocarbon is a chemical compound that consists only of the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). ...

See also

• Geyser
• Hydrothermal vent
• Mud volcano
• Granite