ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Blueschist

Blueschist is a kind of rock that is made when rocks deep under the ground are exposed to very high pressure and low temperatures. It's like a special recipe where the ingredients are specific kinds of rocks and a lot of pressure from the ground on top of them.

When rocks get squeezed by the ground, they change in a few different ways. First, they become harder and more dense. Next, the minerals in the rocks start to rearrange themselves, which can make them change color! This is where blueschist gets its name. It becomes a deep blue color because of the new minerals in it.

Scientists study blueschist because it can give them clues about what happened deep under the ground a long time ago. They can look at the different minerals in the blueschist and learn how old it is, what kind of pressure and temperature it experienced, and what kind of rocks it used to be.

Even though it may sound like a fancy rock, blueschist is actually really cool because it helps us learn more about the history of the earth!
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