Millennia Metamorphosis – Cathy Needham
This piece is an interpretation of transformation on a global scale. It is an artistic representation of the cycle of rock formation and change that takes place in a complex geological dance over time throughout the Earth’s crust and surface.
Millennia Metamorphosis is an artistic exploration of complex geological processes including sedimentation, igneous activity, metamorphism and crystallisation that have taken place in the Earth’s crust over time.
The right side shows sedimentary deposits such as sandstones, mudstones, limestones, organic layers and surface level igneous lava intrusions.
The bottom section shows metamorphic and deeper igneous (plutonic) strata. These occur when upper rocks have been taken deeper by tectonic activity. They are transformed through heat, pressure and time to form new, often highly folded, metamorphic rocks.
On the left side the breakdown of surface layers by agents such as wind, water and ice, produces smaller and smaller rock fragments. These can then be re-deposited to form new sedimentary layers.
Embellishment using semi-precious stones highlights the formation of gemstones, which can occur within all the rock types. These crystallise under intense conditions of heat, pressure and time in gaps and cavities within rocks. Sedimentary rocks can contain Opal, Turquoise and some Jaspers crystallised from mineral rich fluids moving through the layers. In igneous rocks cooling magma creates gems like garnet, tourmaline and peridot. Metamorphic processes also create some garnets and quartz varieties like citrine and blue lace agate. When rocks return to nearer the surface gemstones are weathered out or mined and used in many ways both decorative and practical.
It is interesting that the felting process is also a form of metamorphosis, using hot soapy water and pressure to transform loose dry fibres of wool into a cohesive piece of material.