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Hornfels is a hard, fine-grained rock formed by contact metamorphism. This process occurs when heat and fluids from an igneous intrusion alter the surrounding rock, changing its mineralogy to one stable at high temperatures, potentially reaching up to 800° C. Hornfels is typically produced from the metamorphism of rocks like slate. The specific minerals present in hornfels depend on the composition of the original parent rock. The term "hornfels" originates from German, combining "Horn" (horn) and "Fels" (rock).12

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