What is the major difference between metamorphism and metasomatism?

Answer 1

Metamorphism is the solid-state recrystallization of pre-existing rocks due to changes in physical and chemical conditions, primarily heat, pressure, and the introduction of chemically active fluids. Mineralogical, chemical and crystallographic changes can occur during this process. Changes at or just beneath Earth's surface due to weathering and/or diagenesis are not classified as metamorphism.

Three types of metamorphism exist: contact, dynamic and regional. Metamorphism produced with increasing pressure and temperature conditions is known as prograde metamorphism. Conversely, decreasing temperatures and pressure characterizeretrograde metamorphism.

Metasomatism is the chemical alteration of a rock by hydrothermal and other fluids. Metasomatism can occur via the action of hydrothermal fluids from an igneous or metamorphic source.

In the igneous environment, metasomatism creates skarns, greisen, and may affect hornfels in the contact metamorphic aureole adjacent to an intrusiverock mass. In the metamorphic environment, metasomatism is created by mass transfer from a volume of metamorphic rock at higher stress andtemperature into a zone with lower stress and temperature, with metamorphic hydrothermal solutions acting as a solvent. This can be envisaged as the metamorphic rocks within the deep crust losing fluids and dissolved mineral components as hydrous minerals break down, with this fluid percolating up into the shallow levels of the crust to chemically change and alter these rocks.

Because metasomatism is a mass transfer process, it is not restricted to the rocks which are changed by addition of chemical elements and minerals or hydrous compounds. In all cases, to produce a metasomatic rock some other rock is also metasomatised, if only by dehydration reactions with minimal chemical change.