metamorphic processes

Metamorphic processes involve the transformation of existing rocks into new types due to heat, pressure, and chemically active fluids deep within the Earth's crust. These conditions cause minerals to recrystallize and realign, changing the rock's structure and appearance without melting it. Essentially, it's like shaping and remodeling stone underground, resulting in metamorphic rocks such as schist, gneiss, or marble. These changes occur slowly over geological time, influenced by tectonic forces, and help reveal the Earth's dynamic history.