Question

Granite, an igneous rock, can be found in mountains on Earth. Forces within Earth slowly push upward, continuing to form the mountain. Quartzite is a metamorphic rock that forms from granite. Which statement below describes how this is possible?

A. Mountains eventually form volcanoes due to continued upward forces, and the granite becomes magma again, which then cools to form quartzite.
B. As mountains form, earthquakes sometimes occur due to the large forces at Earth’s surface, which causes granite to break down and melt to form quartzite.
C. The mountain building causes extreme heat and pressure, which changed the granite into sedimentary rock and further compacting it under the surface of Earth to form quartzite.
D. Weathering and erosion break down granite into sediment, which is then moved by streams to the ocean where it settles in layers, and with continued pressure over time forms quartzite.

Answer 1

Granite changes into quartzite through metamorphism during mountain building due to extreme heat and pressure within the Earth. The correct option is (C).

Step-by-step explanation:

Granite, an igneous rock found in mountains, transforms into quartzite, a metamorphic rock, through metamorphism. This process occurs as a result of the mountain building, involving extreme heat and pressure beneath the Earth's surface.

Specifically, quartzose sandstones or siltstones which compose granite undergo metamorphism and become quartzite, exhibiting a crystalline texture and typically composed of interlocking quartz crystals or visible original sand grains.