Overprinting (geology)

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In this orthogneiss from the Czech Republic the original igneous rock texture has been overprinted by foliation associated with metamorphism.

Overprinting is a geological process that leaves marks altering the marks of an earlier process. Examples include various phases of deformation of rocks in such a way that the initial structures are modified, sometimes even beyond recognition.

Geochemical signatures can also be overprinted when the geochemistry of a geological body is changed by eliminating or modifying the earlier geochemical signature.