Earth and Life Science
Shock
2.9 Describe the changes in mineral components and texture of rocks due
to changes in pressure and temperature (metamorphism).
What is metamorphism?
It comes from the Greek: meta = after, morph = form, so metamorphism
means the after form;
*The change occurs primarily due to heat, pressure, and the introduction of
chemically active fluids.
What are the types of metamorphism?
1. Regional metamorphism
It occurs when a large area of rocks are exposed to intense pressure.
This pressure causes the minerals inside the rocks to shift and realign,
smashing them closer together.
This occurs most often during mountain building events, so metamorphic
rocks are often found near mountain ranges.
2. Contact Metamorphism
It occurs when hot magma forces its way up into the crust. When this
happens the heat cooks the rocks nearby causing metamorphism.
The area surrounding the intrusion where the contact metamorphism
effects are present is called the metamorphic aureole.
Contact metamorphic rocks are usually known as hornfels. Rocks formed by
contact metamorphism may not present signs of strong deformation and are
often fine-grained
3. Hydrothermal Metamorphism
It is the result of the interaction of a rock with a high-temperature fluid of
variable composition.
4.
It occurs when either an extraterrestrial object (a meteorite for instance)
collides with the Earth's surface or during an extremely violent volcanic
eruption. Impact metamorphism is, therefore, characterized by ultrahigh
pressure conditions and low temperature.
5. Dynamic
It is associated with zones of high to moderate strain such as fault zones.
Cataclasis, crushing and grinding of rocks into angular fragments, occurs in
dynamic metamorphic zones, giving cataclastic texture.
What are certain non-foliated rocks with specific chemical compositions
and/or mineral assemblages?
Marbles:
These are rocks composed mostly of calcite, and less commonly of dolomite.
They result from metamorphism of limestones and dolostones. Some
foliation may be present if the marble contains micas.
Quartzites:
Quartz arenites and chert both are composed mostly of SiO2. Since quartz is
stable over a wide range of pressures and temperatures, metamorphism of
quartz arenites and cherts will result only in the recrystallization of quartz
forming a hard rock with interlocking crystals of quartz. Such a rock is called
a quartzite.
Mylonites:
Mylonites are cataclastic metamorphic rocks that are produced along shear
zones deep in the crust. They are usually fine-grained, sometimes glassy,
that are streaky or layered, with the layers and streaks having been drawn
out by ductile shear.