What happens when gneiss is melted?

When gneiss is melted, it undergoes a process known as partial melting, which transforms it into magma. The composition of the resulting magma can vary depending on the minerals present in the gneiss, typically producing a granitic or dioritic magma. As the magma cools and solidifies, it can form igneous rocks, such as granite or diorite, depending on the cooling rate and environmental conditions. This process is part of the rock cycle, where metamorphic rocks like gneiss can be recycled into new igneous formations.