metamorphic textures

Metamorphic textures describe the appearance and arrangement of minerals in rocks that have been transformed by heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids. They reveal how mineral grains have grown, aligned, or intergrown during this transformation. Common textures include foliated (layered or banded patterns, like schist) and non-foliated (granular or massive, like quartzite). These textures provide clues about the conditions and processes the rock experienced, helping geologists understand the history of the Earth's crust and the environment during metamorphism.