Explosion Pipes

Explosion pipes or diatremes are the result of magmatic gas eruptions. Their peculiar form, piercing contacts, various filling rocks and associated minerals attract the attention of geologists. In addition, they are economically profitable because many contain metalliferous mineralizations or, even more important, they are mined for diamonds. Scientific interest has focussed on the physical parameters such as dynamics, energy release, mechanisms responsible for the formation and filling of diatreme chambers. Geological conditions favorable for localizing explosion pipes are carefully considered. The study of different concepts has established potential guidelines for fields of diatremes: valleys of ancient and present drainage networks.