What does heat and pressure transform limestone into?

Heat and pressure significantly transform limestone through a process known as metamorphism. When limestone, which is primarily composed of calcite, experiences intense heat and pressure, it undergoes a transformation to become marble. This metamorphic process changes the structure of the original limestone, resulting in a denser and more crystalline rock, which possesses a characteristic luster and veining patterns commonly seen in marble.

Marble is prized in sculpture and architecture for its beauty and ability to take a high polish, making it distinct from its parent rock, limestone. Understanding this transformation is crucial in geology as it illustrates the dynamic processes that alter rock types in the Earth's crust over time. The other options relate to either different types of rocks or distinct metamorphic processes, but only marble is specifically formed from the metamorphosis of limestone under heat and pressure.