laccolith
Sign in to savethumb|upright=1.3|Cross section (geometry)|Cross section of a laccolith intruding into and deforming strata
Article
11 sectionsContents
- Description
- Etymology
- Where laccoliths form
- Examples
- Problems reconstructing shapes of intrusions
- Extraterrestrial laccoliths
- Gallery
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|upright=1.3|Cross section (geometry)|Cross section of a laccolith intruding into and deforming strata
A laccolith is a body of intrusive rock with a dome-shaped upper surface and a level base, fed by a conduit from below. A laccolith forms when magma (molten rock) rising through the Earth's crust begins to spread out horizontally, prying apart the host rock strata. The pressure of the magma is high enough that the overlying strata are forced upward, giving the laccolith its dome-like form.