metasomatic
- adjective
- /ˌmɛtəˈsɒmətɪk/
- Specialized
:
metasomático
- A metasomatic process can introduce new elements into a rock, altering its composition.
Examples
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The metasomatic changes in the rock were caused by hot, mineral-rich fluids.
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Geologists studied the metasomatic zones to understand the area's mineral deposits.
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The metasomatic processes altered the mineral composition significantly.
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Geologists study metasomatic changes in rocks to understand their history.
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The metasomatic changes in the rock were caused by hot, mineral-rich fluids.
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Geologists studied the metasomatic zones to understand the area's mineral deposits.
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A metasomatic process can introduce new elements into a rock, altering its composition.
How Chemically Altered
Surface Forms
Morphology
metasomatic = somatic (opaque) = meta + somat + ic
The word is formally built on the adjective 'somatic', but the geological meaning is specialized and not predictable for an average learner from the parts alone.
Etymology
Metasomatic joins Greek parts meta- meaning 'change', as in metamorphosis, and -somatic from soma meaning 'body'. So, think of a rock's 'body' being changed by fluids, which is exactly what metasomatic describes in geology.