piercementn.
/ˈpɪəsm(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˈpɪrsm(ə)nt/ Geology.
The penetration of overlying strata by a mobile rock core, often of salt (usually attributive); an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > formation of features > tectonization or diastrophism > [noun] > intrusion > piercement
piercement1925
1925 D. C. Barton in Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists 9 1239 The salt is merely part of the peculiar type of fold called by Mrazec ‘diapir’ fold, or by Krejci ‘piercement’ folds (Durchspiessungsfalten).
1972 McGraw-Hill Yearbk. Sci. & Technol. 1971 347/2 Salt beds under increased load from overlying sedimentation sought density equilibrium and flowed upward as piercements.
2002 Oil & Gas Jrnl. (Nexis) 5 Aug. 32 Salt features, including salt anticlines and piercement structures, define important structural elements.
Compounds
piercement dome n. = diapir n.
ΚΠ
1942 M. P. Billings Struct. Geol. xiv. 254 Salt domes are classified by some geologists into piercement domes and non~piercement domes, the former being discordant, the latter concordant.
2000 Star Phoenix (Saskatoon, Sask.) (Nexis) 2 Sept. e1 Geological Survey of Canada scientist H.R. Greinrier visited the site a short time later and thought it to be a salt piercement dome.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1925