Geology and Minerals

Diatreme

A diatreme, sometimes known as a maar-diatreme volcano, is a volcanic pipe associated with a gaseous explosion. When magma rises up through a crack in Earth's crust and makes contact with a shallow body of groundwater, rapid expansion of heated water vapor and volcanic gases can cause a series of explosions. A relatively shallow crater (known as a maar) is left, and a rock-filled fracture (the actual diatreme) in the crust. Where diatremes breach the surface they produce a steep, inverted cone shape.

Also on this shelf

See also

• ▸Barnett Shale
• ▸Glass Mountains
• ▸Industrial wastewater treatment

Uncatalogued shelf

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