Overprinting (geology)

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

Overprinting refers to 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.