Question

Hydrothermal fluids question 1 options:

a) Consist of only hot water and steam.

b) Are chemically inactive solutions, like pure water.

c) Change a rock's chemical composition, in a process known as exhumation.

d) Can be derived from groundwater or magma, or can be the product of metamorphic reactions.

Answer 1

Hydrothermal fluids can come from sources like groundwater, magma, or metamorphic reactions, and they can change a rock's composition, a process known as metamorphism.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer to the student's question is d) Can be derived from groundwater or magma, or can be the product of metamorphic reactions. Hydrothermal fluids are indeed water-based but can be comprised of a multitude of chemical substances beyond just hot water and steam. These fluids are often a product of geological processes and can have various sources such as groundwater, magma, or even metamorphic reactions.

When they interact with rocks, they have the capability to fundamentally alter the rock's mineral and chemical composition, a process known as metamorphism. The citation from LibreTexts underscores that rocks undergo metamorphic changes due to alterations in both their physical and chemical environments, often driven by hot, chemically active hydrothermal fluids.