diapir

(ə pir′)

noun

Geol. a dome formation in which the rigid top layers have been split open by pressure from an underlying plastic core

Related Forms:

See diapir in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
An anticlinal fold in which a mobile core, such as salt or gypsum, has pierced through the more brittle overlying rock.

Origin:

Origin: French

Origin: , from Greek diapeirein, to push through

Origin: : dia-, dia-

Origin: + peirein, to pierce; see per-2 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • diˌa·pirˈic adjective

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