metasomatism Meaning, Definition & Usage

Met`a*so"ma*tism noun

Etymology

Pref. meta- + Gr. , , body.

Definitions

1. (Geol.) An alteration in a mineral or rock mass when involving a chemical change of the substance, as of chrysolite to serpentine; -- opposed to ordinary metamorphism, as implying simply a recrystallization. -- Met`a*so*mat"ic a.