Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
metamorphism
This term describes a transformative geological process where solid rock changes its identity without ever becoming liquid. It carries a connotation of intense environmental stress, evoking images of crushing pressure and searing heat deep within the Earth's crust that force atoms to rearrange into new crystalline structures.
As a technical scientific term, it is used almost exclusively in geology and mineralogy. It is distinct from igneous processes, which involve melting and cooling, and sedimentary processes, which involve deposition and lithification. Because it describes a general process or phenomenon, it is treated as an uncountable mass noun and does not typically take a plural form in standard scientific discourse.
Meanings
Examples
Heat causes metamorphism.
Heat causes metamorphism.
Metamorphism creates new minerals.
Metamorphism creates new minerals.
The teacher explained metamorphism during the geology lecture.
Regional metamorphism occurs over vast areas of the crust.
Could metamorphism explain these strange crystal structures?
Contact metamorphism occurs when magma heats surrounding rock.
Contact metamorphism occurs when magma heats surrounding rock.
The sample shows evidence of high grade metamorphism.