Diapirs in a subducting plate boundary

A diapir (/ˈdaɪ.əpɪər/;[1][2][3] from French diapir [djapiʁ], from Ancient Greek διαπειραίνω (diapeiraínō) 'to pierce through') is a type of igneous intrusion in which a more mobile and ductily deformable material is forced into brittle overlying rocks. Depending on the tectonic environment, diapirs can range from idealized mushroom-shaped Rayleigh–Taylor-instability-type structures in regions with low tectonic stress such as in the Gulf of Mexico to narrow dikes of material that move along tectonically induced fractures in surrounding rock.

The term was introduced by the Romanian geologist Ludovic Mrazek, who was the first to understand the principle of salt tectonics and plasticity. The term diapir may be applied to igneous structures, but it is more commonly applied to non-igneous, relatively cold materials, such as salt domes and mud diapirs. If a salt diapir reaches the surface, it can flow because salt becomes ductile with a small amount of moisture, forming a salt glacier.[4]

Occurrence

A lava lamp illustrates Rayleigh–Taylor instability-type diapirism in which the tectonic stresses are low.

Differential loading causes salt deposits covered by overburden (sediment) to rise upward toward the surface and pierce the overburden, forming diapirs (including salt domes), pillars, sheets, or other geological structures.

In addition to Earth-based observations, diapirism is thought to occur on Neptune's moon Triton, Jupiter's moon Europa, Saturn's moon Enceladus, and Uranus's moon Miranda.[5]

Formation mechanisms

Diapirs commonly intrude buoyantly upward along fractures or zones of structural weakness through denser overlying rocks. This process is known as diapirism. The resulting structures are also referred to as piercement structures.

In the process, segments of the existing strata can be disconnected and pushed upwards. While moving higher, they retain many of their original properties, e.g. pressure; their pressure can be significantly different from the pressure of the shallower strata they get pushed into. Such overpressured "floaters" pose a significant risk when trying to drill through them. There is an analogy to a Galilean thermometer.[6]

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.

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.

Economic importance

Geological cross section through the Northwestern Basin of Germany (Ostfriesland-Nordheide). Salt domes have penetrated younger layers and moved near to the surface. They sometimes form pockets where petroleum and natural gas can collect. Excavated salt domes are also used for underground storage.

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 (arch-like shape folds), salt domes (mushroom/dome-shaped diapirs), and other structures capable of trapping hydrocarbons such as petroleum and natural gas. Igneous intrusions themselves are typically too hot to allow the preservation of preexisting hydrocarbons.[7]

Occurrences

Astronaut photo of the southwestern edge of the Zagros Mountains featuring the Jashak salt dome (white spot in center). Erosion revealed the uplifted tan and brown rock layers surrounding the salt dome to the northwest and southeast (center of image). Radial drainage patterns indicate another salt dome is located to the southwest (image left center).

There are many salt domes and salt glaciers in the Zagros mountains, formed by the collision of two tectonic plates, the Eurasian Plate and the Arabian Plate.

There are underwater salt domes in the Gulf of Mexico.[8][9]

A map of salt domes that penetrate the base of layer 9 (permeable zone C) in the gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast.[10]
Satellite imagery of salt domes and salt glaciers, visible as darkish irregular patches, Zagros Mountains, southern Iran, near Karmowstaj. Gravity has caused the salt to flow like glaciers into adjacent valleys. The resulting tongue-shaped bodies are more than 5 kilometers long. The darker tones are due to clays brought up with the salt, as well as the probable accumulation of airborne dust.

See also

  • Geyser – Natural explosive eruption of hot water
  • Granite – Type of igneous rock
  • Granite dome – Rounded hills of bare granite formed by exfoliation
  • Hydrothermal vent – Fissure in a planet's surface from which heated water emits
  • Methods of pluton emplacement – The ways magma is accommodated in a host rock where the final result is a pluton
  • Mud volcano – Landform created by the eruption of mud or slurries, water and gases
  • Salt tectonics – Geometries and processes associated with the presence of significant thicknesses of evaporites

References

  1. ↑ "diapir". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (5th ed.). HarperCollins.
  2. ↑ "diapir". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  3. ↑ diapir (4th ed.). Houghton Mifflin. 2000. Archived from the original on 2006-12-08. Retrieved 2006-12-20. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |work= ignored (help)
  4. ↑ Talbot, Christopher J.; Jackson, Martin P. A. (1987). "Salt Tectonics". Scientific American. 257 (2): 70–79. Bibcode:1987SciAm.257b..70T. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0887-70. ISSN 0036-8733. JSTOR 24979445.
  5. ↑ Cassini Imaging Central Laboratory for Operations, Enceladus Rev 80 Flyby: Aug 11 '08 Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  6. ↑ Don L. Anderson (2007). "The eclogite engine: Chemical geodynamics as a Galileo thermometer". In Gillian R. Foulger, Donna M. Jurdy (ed.). Plates, plumes, and planetary processes; Volume 430 of Special Papers. American Geological Society. ISBN 978-0-8137-2430-0.
  7. ↑ Schlumberger Oilfield Glossary, on-line at Archived 2009-03-05 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
  8. ↑ "NOAA Ocean Explorer: Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Habitats: Sept 23 Log". oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  9. ↑ US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Geologic Overview of the Gulf of Mexico: Gulf of Mexico 2018: NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research". oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  10. ↑ Beckman, Jeffery D., and Alex K. Williamson. Salt-dome locations in the Gulf Coastal Plain, south-central United States. Vol. 90. No. 4060. US Geological Survey, 1990.
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