WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

Earth Science Grade 11 Quarter 2, Week 2B

METAMORPHISM

Learning Competency:

Describe the changes in mineral components and texture of rocks due to changes in
pressure and temperature (metamorphism) (MELC S11ES-IIc-d-26)

Specific Objectives:

After the lesson, the students will be able to:

1. define and enumerate the different types of metamorphism
2. explain the changes in mineral components and texture of rocks due to changes in
pressure and temperature

Time Allotment: 2 hours

Key Concepts

Definition of Metamorphism

"Metamorphism" comes from the Greek: meta = after, morph = form, so metamorphism means
the after form.
- changing of one type of rock to another as a result of great heat, great pressure,
and chemical change.
- occurs at temperatures and pressures higher than 200 0C and 300 MPa. Rocks
can be subjected to these higher temperatures and pressures as they become
buried deeper in the Earth. Such burial usually takes place as a result of tectonic
processes such as continental collisions or subduction.
- The upper limit of metamorphism occurs at the pressure and temperature of wet
partial melting of the rock in question. Once melting begins, the process changes
to an igneous process rather than a metamorphic process.

Different Types of Metamorphism

The 4 ways in which metamorphism takes place are:

1. Regional Metamorphism - occurs when rocks over a large region are exposed to great heat
and pressure this is due to deep burial or to movements of rocks in the earth’s crust.

2. Contact Metamorphism – occurs when rocks are heated as they come into contact with
magma or lava.

3. Dynamic metamorphism - takes place in the high-pressure conditions along faults.

4. Hydrothermal metamorphism - ensues from contact with fluids heated by igneous rock

Author: SUNDAE CARMEL S. BASUBAS

School/Station: SIARGAO NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SIARGAO
email address: sundae.basubas@deped.gov.ph
 How metamorphism affects the components and texture of rocks?

 When pressure and temperature change, chemical reactions occur to cause the minerals in
the rock to change to an assemblage that is stable at the new pressure and temperature
conditions. But, the process is complicated by such things as how the pressure is applied,
the time over which the rock is subjected to the higher pressure and temperature, and
whether or not there is a fluid phase present during metamorphism.
 During metamorphism the protolith undergoes changes in texture of the rock and the
mineral make up of the rock. These changes take place mostly in the solid state and are
caused by changes in physical or chemical conditions, which in turn can be caused by such
things as burial, tectonic stress, heating by magma or interactions with fluids.

5 Factors that Control Metamorphism

1. The mineral composition of the parent rock.

The critical feature of the parent rock is its mineral composition. This is because
the stability of minerals—how they are influenced by changing conditions—is what
determines which minerals form as metamorphism takes place. When a rock is subjected
to increased temperatures and pressures, some minerals will undergo chemical reactions
and turn into new minerals, while others might just change their size and shape.

2. The temperature at which metamorphism takes place.

The temperature under which metamorphism occurs is a key variable in

determining which metamorphic reactions happen. Minerals are stable over a specific
range of temperatures. Quartz, for example, is stable from surface temperatures up to
approximately 1800°C. If the pressure is higher, that upper limit will also be higher. If
there is water present, it will be lower. Most other common minerals have upper limits
between 150°C and 1000°C.

3. The amount and type of pressure during metamorphism.

Pressure has implications for mineral stability, and therefore the mineral content
of metamorphic rocks, but it also determines the texture of metamorphic rocks.
When directed pressure (or directed stress) acts on a rock, it means the stress on the
rock is much greater in one direction than another.

4. The types of fluids (mostly water) that are present during metamorphism.

Water is the main fluid present within rocks of the crust, and the only one
considered here. The presence of water is important for two main reasons. First, water
facilitates the transfer of ions between minerals and within minerals, and therefore
increases the rates at which metamorphic reactions take place. This speeds the process
up so metamorphism might occur more rapidly, or metamorphic processes that might
not otherwise have had time to be completed are completed.

Secondly, water—especially hot water—can have elevated concentrations of

dissolved substances, making it an important medium for moving ions from one place to
another within the crust. Processes facilitated by hot water are
called hydrothermal processes (hydro refers to water, and thermal refers to heat).

Author: SUNDAE CARMEL S. BASUBAS

School/Station: SIARGAO NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SIARGAO
email address: sundae.basubas@deped.gov.ph
 5. The amount of time available for metamorphism.

Most metamorphic reactions occur very slowly. Estimates of the growth rates of
new minerals within a rock during metamorphism suggest that new material is added to
the outside of mineral crystals at a rate of approximately 1 mm per million years. Very
slow reaction rates make it difficult to study metamorphic processes in a lab.

Author: SUNDAE CARMEL S. BASUBAS

School/Station: SIARGAO NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SIARGAO
email address: sundae.basubas@deped.gov.ph
Exercises / Activities

Activity No. 1: Meta-Morph Map

Learning Objective:

1. Define and enumerate the different types of metamorphism; and

2. enumerate the factors that control metamorphism

What you Need

Ruler
Pencil

What to do

Directions: Complete the concept map about metamorphism by supplying the missing words
and phrases.

Define metamorphism

Factors that Control

Meta means ____________ Kinds of Metamorphism
Metamorphism
1.
Morph means __________ 2.
3.
4.
5.

Author: SUNDAE CARMEL S. BASUBAS

School/Station: SIARGAO NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SIARGAO
email address: sundae.basubas@deped.gov.ph
 Activity No. 2: When Heat and Pressure Collide

Learning Objectives:

1. Simulate some of the ways in which metamorphic rocks are formed; and
2. explain how both increased pressure and temperature affect the mineral components and
texture of rocks.

What you need:

 Shallow dish
 100 ml water
 stove
 pot holder
 casserole
 1 raw egg
 salt

What to do:

Directions/ Instruction: Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper

1. Place the white of an egg in a shallow dish.

2. Place about 50 ml of water in a casserole and add two or three teaspoon full of salt to the
water (to increase the boiling point) and bring the water to boil.
3. When the water is boiling, carefully take the casserole off the stove and place it at the center
of the egg white on the shallow dish as shown in Figure 1.
4. Leave for 10 minutes and observe again. Write your observations.

casserole
Dish

Figure 1 Arrangement of apparatus for Activity 1

Note: The casserole of water represents an igneous intrusion, the cooked egg white represents the
metamorphic aureole and the unchanged egg white models unchanged country rock. The
igneous intrusion is, of course, always hotter than the country rock.
This simulation can then lead into a discussion about how contact with extreme heat can alter the
texture of existing rocks.

Author: SUNDAE CARMEL S. BASUBAS

School/Station: SIARGAO NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SIARGAO
email address: sundae.basubas@deped.gov.ph
Guide Questions

1. What happens to the egg white in the shallow dish?

2. Explain what causes the egg white to change its components and textures outside the
casserole. Answer in 3 sentences.

3. What is the role of heat and pressure in metamorphism? Answer in 3 sentences.

Scoring Rubric for Question Number 2 and 3

3 points Discussions are complete with no
misconceptions.
2 points Discussions are incomplete with
misconceptions.
1 point There is no discussion shown.

Reflection
Metamorphism is the changing of one type of rock to another as a result of great
heat, great pressure, and chemical change. If there is great temperature and pressure in
the Earth’s interior, rocks and minerals will be melted and liquefy. Can you name your
birthstone? Do you think your birthstone is a product of metamorphism? Explain in 5
sentences.

Scoring Rubric for Reflections

5 points Practical application is scientifically explained and consistent to the concepts,
and has no misconceptions.
4 points Practical application is scientifically explained and consistent to the concepts,
but with minimal misconceptions.
3 points Practical application is scientifically explained and consistent to the concepts,
but with misconceptions.
2 points Practical application is scientifically explained and not consistent to the
concepts and with misconceptions.
1 point Practical application is not supported scientifically, not consistent and with
misconceptions.

Author: SUNDAE CARMEL S. BASUBAS

School/Station: SIARGAO NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SIARGAO
email address: sundae.basubas@deped.gov.ph
References for Learners:

Danielson, E. W. & Denecke, Jr., E. J. (2008). Earth Science. Macmillan Publishing Company.
New York. pp 233-235

Nelson, Stephen A. 2017. Physical Geology. Tulane University. Accessed November 2, 2020.
https://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/eens1110/metamorphic.pdf

Lusk, Alexander. Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks. Geology. Accessed November 2, 2020.
https://earth.usc.edu/~luska/Docs/GEOL115/LECTURES/8%20-
%20Metamorphic%20rocks.pdf

Metamorphic modelling: simulating metamorphic processes: teacher’s notes. Accessed November

2, 2020. https://www.rsc.org/education/teachers/resources/jesei/meta/home.htm

Chapter 7 Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks. Accessed November 2, 2020.

https://opentextbc.ca/geology/chapter/7-1-controls-over-metamorphic-processes/

Author: SUNDAE CARMEL S. BASUBAS

School/Station: SIARGAO NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Division: SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SIARGAO
email address: sundae.basubas@deped.gov.ph
 email address: sundae.basubas@deped.gov.ph
Division: SCHOOLS DIVISION OF SIARGAO
School/Station: SIARGAO NATIONAL SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL
Author: SUNDAE CARMEL S. BASUBAS
Activity 2
Reflection: 1. The egg white was in contact to the
Answers may vary.
casserole.
Expected answer:
2. The egg white was solidified and
Most gems/birthstones form cooked because of the extreme heat
at convergent plate and it can alter the textures and
boundaries where shale is being acted upon components of the egg white. The
by regional metamorphism. The heat and experiment shows chemical reaction
pressure of metamorphism breaks chemical due to change in temperature, heat
bonds and causes minerals to recrystallize and pressure.
into structures that are stable under the 3. Metamorphism is the isochemical
new temperature-pressure environment. process by which rocks are changed
As these rocks are metamorphosed,
by either heat or pressure, or both
the gems/birthstone start as tiny grains and
enlarge slowly over time as metamorphism heat and pressure. The chemical
progresses. As they grow, they displace, composition of the parent rock will
replace, and include the surrounding rock be the same as the metamorphic
materials. It included a number of the host rock produced. The rock undergoes
rock's mineral grains as it grew. This the very slow process of solid-state
explains why so many gems/birthstone recrystallisation without melting.
formed by regional metamorphism are Different temperatures and
highly included. pressures cause new minerals to
grow in rocks that have the same
composition.
Hydrothermal Dynamic Contact Regional
metamorphism metamorphism Metamorphism – Metamorphism -
- ensues from - takes place in occurs when rocks occurs when rocks
the high- are heated as they over a large region
contact with
pressure come into contact are exposed to great
fluids heated by conditions along with magma or heat and pressure
igneous rock faults. lava. this is due to deep
burial or to
movements of rocks
in the earth’s crust.
Factors that control metamorphism
1. Parent Rock
2. Temperature
3. Pressure
4. Type of Fluids Types of Metamorphism Meta means after
Morph means form
5. Time Morph means form
Meta means after
Metamorphism is changing of one type of
great pressure, and chemical change.
rock to another as a result of great heat,
rock to another as a result of great heat,
great pressure, and chemical change.
Metamorphism is the Changing of one type of
Activity 1
Answer Key