rockgrowth

Rockgrowth refers to the process by which rocks increase in size or mass. This can occur through several geological mechanisms. Accretion, a common form of rockgrowth, involves the gradual accumulation of material onto an existing rock body. This can happen through the deposition of sediments that are later lithified, or through the addition of volcanic material such as lava flows or ash. Another mechanism is the incorporation of surrounding rock into a larger igneous intrusion during magma ascent.

In some contexts, rockgrowth might also refer to the growth of mineral crystals within a rock. This occurs through processes like precipitation from mineral-rich fluids or by solid-state diffusion and recrystallization. While individual mineral crystals grow, the overall rock body itself can also expand if these crystals fill existing pores or fractures, or if the rock mass is subjected to tectonic forces that cause it to deform and enlarge. The term is not typically used for the slow weathering and erosion processes that break down rocks, but rather for additive or expansive geological phenomena.