diatremelike

Diatremelike is an adjective used in geology to describe a geological body or feature that resembles a diatreme, a volcanic pipe produced by explosive eruption. A diatreme is typically a vertically oriented, breccia-filled conduit that disrupts surrounding rocks and may widen near the surface to form a crater or tuff ring. Diatremelike features are identified when a rock body mimics these characteristics—often appearing as a vertical or subvertical breccia-filled conduit that projects through competent strata—though their exact origin may be uncertain.

Characteristics commonly associated with diatremelike bodies include chaotic or heterolithic breccia, silt- and sand-sized volcaniclastic matrix, and a restricted surface exposure that hints at a concealed conduit. They may be associated with strong fragmentation from phreatomagmatic explosions or rapid emplacement of volatile-rich magmas that fracture the host rock. In many cases the feature is inferred from geophysical anomalies (gravity, magnetic data) or small surface expressions rather than direct exposure.

In geological literature, the term diatremelike is used cautiously to indicate a resemblance to a diatreme without confirmation of its volcanic origin. Further work, such as detailed drilling, cross-cutting relationships, or stratigraphic analysis, is typically required to distinguish a true diatreme from diatremelike analogues produced by other processes such as tectonic brecciation or impact-related breccias.

See also diatreme, volcanic pipe, breccia, kimberlite, maar.