contact metamorphism
- localized metamorphism resulting from the heat of an igneous intrusion.
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Origin of contact metamorphism
First recorded in 1875–80
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
contact metamorphism
- A type of metamorphism in which the mineralogy and texture of a body of rock are changed by exposure to the pressure and extreme temperature associated with a body of intruding magma. Contact metamorphism often results in the formation of valuable minerals, such as garnet and emery, through the interaction of the hot magma with adjacent rock. See also aureole. Compare regional metamorphism.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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