how the movement of tectonic plates helps turn sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks.(2 points)

1 answer

The movement of tectonic plates contributes to the transformation of sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks through the following processes:

  1. Subduction and Pressure: When tectonic plates converge, one plate may be forced beneath another in a process called subduction. This can lead to increased pressure and temperature conditions in the subducted sedimentary rocks, causing physical and chemical changes that transform them into metamorphic rocks.

  2. Heat from Magma Intrusion: As tectonic plates shift, magma can rise from the mantle into the crust, introducing heat to surrounding sedimentary rocks. This heat, combined with the pressure from tectonic movements, enhances metamorphic processes, leading to recrystallization and the formation of new mineral assemblages characteristic of metamorphic rocks.

These processes underscore the dynamic nature of the Earth's crust and the role of tectonic activity in rock transformation.