METASOMATISM

Met′a‐so″ma‐tism (?), n. [[Pref. meta- + Gr. �, �, body.]] (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.