How is one pathway that could lead to the formation of metamorphic rock?

Answer 1

Rock metamorphosis, or metamorphism, is the change in the crystalline components, chemical composition, or structure of rocks from exposure to intense pressure, heat, or exchange of ions through heated solutions. Metamorphosis of rock usually occurs deep below the Earth's surface, but could also occur from meteor impact, or close contact with a magmatic intrusion.

Metamorphism occurs in rock without melting. Mineral components can recrystallize, form new minerals, and become aligned directionally in physical appearance. Through metamorphosis, one type of rock becomes another type of rock. Sandstone can become quartzite, limestone can become marble, shale can become slate, and so on.

High pressures and temperatures can cause hydrous minerals to change to non-hydrous minerals like garnet. Rounded mineral crystals can become flattened, and minerals that grow in the stressed rock can display a preferred orientation that is perpendicular to the direction of the stress and display a characteristic known as foliation, with distinct banding or platyness. In rocks such as quartzite and limestone, where the minerals are relatively stable along a broad range of temperatures and pressures, the mineral crystals simply become larger. In cases where the metamorphism occurs because of proximity to hydrothermal fluids, a chemical exchange will take place, changing the original composition of the host rock.

Answer 2

Metamorphic rocks are formed from a protolith, or parent rock, which can be of any rock type (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic). The parent rock is exposed to varying degrees of pressure and/or heat either from depth of burial, exposure to a plutonic body of intense heat, or from pressures resulting from the collision of tectonic plates. The heat and/or pressure can transform the minerals inside the parent rock to new minerals, cause recrystallization of existing minerals, or reorganize the existing minerals into bands and layers. All of these processes take place without any melting of the parent rock.

Answer 3

Rocks being under tons of heat and pressure leads to the formation of metamorphic rock.

Answer 4

Heating, pressurization, deformation, recrystallization, and metamorphism.

Answer 5

heat and pressure