Final answer:
Pressure is important in metamorphic processes because it affects mineral stability and contributes to the texture of metamorphic rock, leading to the alignment of minerals in a process called foliation.
The correct choice in this case is (a) Pressure has implications for mineral stability and has implications for the texture of metamorphic rock.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pressure is crucial in metamorphic processes because it affects the stability of minerals and contributes to the characteristic texture of metamorphic rocks. The correct choice in this case is (a) Pressure has implications for mineral stability and has implications for the texture of metamorphic rock. As pressure increases, minerals may recrystallize and form new minerals, undergoing a process called foliation, where the minerals align perpendicularly to the direction of the applied pressure. This foliation is notably visible in rocks like schist and gneiss.
Heat also plays a significant role in metamorphism; it allows ions to migrate within mineral crystal structures, especially when combined with pressure, resulting in the transformation of the protolith into a metamorphic rock. However, without sufficient heat, the rock would not change so much as break under pressure. Thus, the combination of heat and pressure facilitates the metamorphism of the protolith into either foliated or non-foliated metamorphic rocks, depending on the mineral composition and the specific conditions experienced during metamorphism.