How could igneous rock become metamorphic rock, and vice versa?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Igneous rocks can transform into metamorphic rocks through a process known as metamorphism, which occurs when the rock is exposed to extreme heat, pressure, and sometimes chemically active fluids beneath the Earth’s surface. The conditions required for metamorphism are typically found in subduction zones, mountain ranges, or continental collisions. When an igneous rock, such as granite, is subjected to high pressure and temperature, the minerals within the rock may recrystallize or change to form a different texture or new minerals. This change does not involve the rock melting but rather a solid-state transformation. For example, granite may become gneiss under these conditions.
On the flip side, a metamorphic rock can revert to an igneous rock through melting and then solidification. This happens when the metamorphic rock is subjected to even higher temperatures, causing it to melt completely. Once the melted rock, called magma, rises toward the Earth’s surface, it may cool and solidify to form an igneous rock. For instance, a schist, a type of metamorphic rock, can melt into magma, which then cools to form basalt or granite.
This entire rock cycle, which involves the transformation of rocks from one type to another, is driven by geological processes such as plate tectonics, heat from the Earth’s core, and the movement of Earth’s crust. Thus, igneous and metamorphic rocks are part of a continuous process of creation, destruction, and reformation.
