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Contact metamorphism identification and geology

Metamorphism caused by heat transfer from an igneous intrusion into the surrounding country rock, without significant directed pressure. Contact metamorphism produces a metamorphic aureole around the intrusion, with the highest-grade assemblages nearest the contact. Characteristic rocks include hornfels fine-grained, non-foliated and skarn formed at the contact between intrusions and carbonate rocks . Field: petrology. Example: Where the Sierra Nevada batholith intruded Paleozoic limestone, contact metamorphism produced scheelite-bearing skarns that were mined for tungsten during World War II.. Related terms: Aureole, Hornfels, Skarn, Regional metamorphism.

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:41.970235+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Contact metamorphism mean in geology?
Metamorphism caused by heat transfer from an igneous intrusion into the surrounding country rock, without significant directed pressure. Contact metamorphism produces a metamorphic aureole around the intrusion, with the highest-grade assemblages nearest the contact. Characteristic rocks include hornfels fine-grained, non-foliated and skarn formed at the contact between intrusions and carbonate rocks .
What is an example of Contact metamorphism?
Where the Sierra Nevada batholith intruded Paleozoic limestone, contact metamorphism produced scheelite-bearing skarns that were mined for tungsten during World War II.
Which earth-science field uses the term Contact metamorphism?
Contact metamorphism is used in petrology.
Which terms are related to Contact metamorphism?
Related terms in this reference are Aureole, Hornfels, Skarn, Regional metamorphism.

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