Final answer:
Country rock, contact metamorphism, and xenoliths are associated with igneous intrusion, a process where magma enters other rock formations, leading to alteration of existing rocks and potentially forming new igneous rock that includes pieces of the original host rock.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terms 'country rock,' 'contact metamorphism,' and 'xenolith' are commonly associated with igneous intrusion, which is the process where magma forces its way into or between other rock formations. This can lead to various geological phenomena:
- Country rock is the existing rock into which the intrusion happens.
- Contact metamorphism occurs when the country rock is altered by the intense heat from the intrusion, leading to changes in mineralogy and texture.
- Xenoliths are fragments of country rock that are engulfed in the igneous intrusion and can be found within the cooled intrusive rock.
The rock cycle explains these interactions, showing how rocks metamorphose from one type to another over geologic time, and the role of tectonic environments in shaping the formation of various rock types.