Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic rocks are exposed on every continent and are an
important component of many mountain belts.
Metamorphism takes place where rocks are subjected to conditions
unlike those in which it formed (usually elevated temperature and/or
pressure).
Metamorphic rocks can be formed from igneous, sedimentary, or even
from other metamorphic rocks known as the parent rock.
Metamorphic Rocks
Classified by texture and composition
Texture is divided into foliated &
nonfoliated rocks
Mineral composition qualifies textural
name
Metamorphic Rocks
Recrystallization in the solid state
Caused by changes in T, P or fluids
New environment = new minerals
Growing minerals create a new texture
Metamorphism
Recrystallization
T, P or change in pore fluids initiate change in
the mineral assemblage
Reaction occur entirely in the solid state
Shale
Schist
Protolith
The parent rock subjected to Metamorphism
-can be any rock type: igneous,
sedimentary, or metamorphic
Shale
Schist
Agents of Metamorphism
1. HEAT
2. PRESSURE (stress)
3. CHEMICALLY ACTIVE FLUIDS (H20 and CO2 )
- Metamorphism occurs incrementally, from slight change (low-grade) to
dramatic change (high-grade) from the parent rock.
- During metamorphism, rocks are typically treated to all 3 agents at
once.
Heat is the most important agent since it provides the energy to drive
the
chemical changes that result in recrystallization of the rock.
Two primary ways that heat is an metamorphic agent:
1. During contact metamorphism, the intense heat of an intruded
magma may "bake" the adjacent rock.
2. During regional metamorphism, rocks near the surface of the Earth
may be thrust downward and buried where they are subjected to
increased temperatures and stresses.
Geothermal gradient in crust = ~20 - 30/km.
Contact Metamorphism
The "baked" zone of alteration is
called an aureole and forms
around the magma intrusion. With
large magmatic intrusions like
batholiths, the aureole can be
several km thick.
Since differential stress is not
involved, these rocks are generally
not foliated.
Roof pendants (photo) are
common in the Sierra Nevada and
consist of metamorphosed host
rock adjacent to the upper part of
an igneous pluton (light colored) the roof of the magma chamber.
Regional Metamorphism
Produces the greatest quantity of metamorphic rocks and is associated with mountain
building.
- Commonly occurs during convergence of tectonic plates - rocks are
folded, faulted, shortened and thickened.
- Rocks are thrust up high to form mountains but an large volume of rock is forced
downward resulting in dramatic thickening of the crust - forming the roots of the
mountains. Examples: Himalayas, Appalachians, Rocky Mountains
Tectonic Pressure/Stress
-directional/non-uniform
-referred to as deviatoric stress
Mineralogical Changes
Index Minerals
Regional metamorphism is
gradational in intensity. As we shift
from areas of low-grade to high-grade
metamorphism, we can
observe changes in the mineralogy
and texture of the metamorphic
rocks.
During progressive
metamorphism,
diagnostic minerals appear that
can be correlated with
metamorphic grade - index
minerals.
The map shows the distribution of
index minerals in New England
indicating regions of lower and
higher metamorphic grade.
Metamorphic facies
Nonfoliated Texture
Nonfoliated Rocks
Marble
Interlocking, coarse grained calcite
Recrystallization of limestone or
dolostone
Sedimentary features
destroyed
Quartzite
Metamorphism of quartz sandstone
Entire rock is recrystallized
Foliated Textures
Foliated Textures
Foliation:
-preferred orientation
or location of minerals
Foliated
Nonfoliated textures
Slate
Phyllite
Similar to slate
More Recrystallization
Crystals are larger
Schist
Strongly foliated rock
Medium to coarse grained
-dominated by platy minerals
Protoliths: multiple
Gneiss
Coarse grained granular rock
Foliation: alternating bands of light &
dark minerals
Quartz, feldspar, amphibole,
biotite
Protoliths: various