pseudomorphism
/ˌsuːdəˈmɔːrfɪzəm/
noun
- The process or phenomenon in which a mineral or crystal takes on the external form of another mineral while having a different internal composition or structure.
- The study of pseudomorphism helps geologists understand how rocks change over time.
- In the lab, they observed pseudomorphism as aragonite transformed into calcite while keeping its original needle-like form.
- Pseudomorphism occurs when one mineral gradually replaces another without changing its outward shape.