What Are the Three Main Agents of Metamorphism?

Discover the three main agents of metamorphism: heat, pressure, and chemical fluids, and their role in transforming rocks.

40 views

Heat, pressure, and chemical fluids are three primary agents of metamorphism. Heat can cause recrystallization of minerals. Pressure, either from burial or tectonic forces, can deform rock structures. Chemical fluids, often water with dissolved ions, facilitate mineral growth and changes in rock composition.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What are the three agents that cause metamorphism? The three agents of metamorphism are heat, pressure, and chemical fluids.
  2. How does heat affect metamorphic rocks? Heat causes recrystallization of minerals, altering their structure and composition.
  3. What role do chemical fluids play in metamorphism? Chemical fluids facilitate mineral growth and changes in rock composition during metamorphism.
  4. Can pressure alone cause metamorphism? No, metamorphism typically requires a combination of heat, pressure, and chemical fluids.