Salt Dome

A salt dome is a large, underground formation where thick layers of salt have pushed upward through overlying rocks due to their density and buoyancy. Over millions of years, the salt creates a dome-shaped structure that can rise quite close to the Earth's surface. These formations are significant because they often trap oil and natural gas, making them important to the petroleum industry. Salt domes can also influence the landscape, creating unique geological and sometimes aesthetic features, and are studied for their role in earth’s geological processes.