Describing rocks that have been transformed from their original form through intense heat, pressure, or chemical processes deep within the Earth. These rocks maintain their solid state while their mineral composition and structure change completely.
From Greek 'meta' meaning change or beyond, and 'morphe' meaning form or shape. The term entered geological vocabulary in the 1830s when scientists classified this third major type of rock formation, distinct from igneous and sedimentary rocks.
Metamorphic rocks are nature's ultimate recycling success story! Marble, one of the most prized building materials, started as humble limestone or dolomite that was cooked and squeezed deep in the Earth until it became something entirely new and beautiful. The Appalachian Mountains are largely metamorphic rocks that formed when ancient continents collided with tremendous force.
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