There are two types of Metamorphism:

The second type is Contact metamorphism.

By the word “contact”, it is a kind of metamorphism due to contact with or proximity

to an igneous intrusion. It occurs when rock textures and minerals are altered by contact with
magma, primarily by heat. The area that has undergone metamorphism surrounding an igneous
rock is called the metamorphic aureole. Outside of the contact aureole, the rocks are not
affected by the intrusive event. If you keep in mind that these rocks alter by really coming into
contact with anything extremely hot, like lava, you can remember this term rather easily.
Imagine if you were gazing at a cross-section of the Earth, where you could see both the
surface of the planet and several thick layers of rock underneath it. Imagine that these thick
layers of rock are being forced up by an intrusion of hot, molten lava. The nearby rocks undergo
metamorphosis as a result of the magma's baking.
As a result, metamorphic rocks will form all along the outside edge of the magma
intrusion. Keep in mind that contact metamorphism only occurs across a narrow region since
there is a relatively direct touch with the heat source.

What causes contact metamorphic rocks?

Heat is important in contact metamorphism, but pressure is not a key factor, so contact
metamorphism produces non-foliated (rocks without any cleavage) metamorphic rocks such as
hornfels, marble, and quartzite. A hot body of magma in the upper crust can create a very
dynamic situation that may have geologically interesting and economically important
implications. In the simplest cases, water does not play a big role, and the main process is
transfer of heat from the pluton (body of intrusive igneous rock) to the surrounding rock,
creating a zone of contact metamorphism. In that situation mudrock or volcanic rock will likely
be metamorphosed to hornfels, limestone will be metamorphosed to marble, and sandstone to
quartzite.
Contact metamorphic rock examples:

Contact
metamorphic Characteristics Examples
rocks
Hornfels Hornfels is medium-to-coarse
crystalline metamorphic rocks
formed out of contact
metamorphism, dark color, and
rich in silicates with granoblastic
and porphyroblastic texture.

The surface of this hornfels specimen

bears hydrothermal mineralization.

Marble In its pure form, marble is a

white stone with a crystalline and
sugary appearance, consisting of
calcium carbonate

This specimen has calcite cleavage

faces up to several millimeters in size
that are reflecting light. The specimen
is about two inches (five centimeters)
across.
 Quartzite Quartzite is a compact, hard,
nonfoliated, medium to coarsely
crystalline, and almost mono
mineral metamorphic rocks with
granoblastic texture.

Quartzite, containing darker bands of

phengite and chlorite, from Maurienne
Valley in the French Alps

The sort of contact metamorphic rock that develops is significantly influenced by how
much pressure and heat are applied to the minerals in the original rock. As the temperature
and/or pressure increases on a body of rock we say the rock undergoes prograde
metamorphism or that the grade of metamorphism increases. Metamorphic grade is a general
term for describing the relative temperature and pressure conditions under which metamorphic
rocks form.
-Hornfels is the group name for a set of contact metamorphic rocks that have been baked and
hardened by the heat of intrusive igneous masses and have been rendered massive, hard,
splintery, and in some cases exceedingly tough and durable.
-Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly
calcite or dolomite. Marble is typically not foliated, although there are exceptions. In geology,
the term marble refers to metamorphosed limestone, but its use in stonemasonry more broadly
encompasses unmetamorphosed limestone.
-Quartzite is a hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock which was originally pure quartz sandstone.
Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic
compression within orogenic belts.
As the metamorphism of rocks increases, metamorphic rocks develop in phases. The mineral
composition and texture of the originating rocks can be radically changed by metamorphic
processes (see the pictures above). Any pre-existing rock, known as a protolith which was
mentioned by Sheens earlier, may undergo a change in shape when heated by fluids already
present inside the rock (a metamorphic rock).
A famous example of contact metamorphism along the sides of an igneous intrusion exposed in
cliffs of limestone. The Purcell Sill is composed of an igneous intrusive rock (diorite) and cuts
through older Precambrian-age sedimentary rocks. This exposure is in Glacier National Park,
Montana. Contact metamorphism occurred both on the top and bottom of the sill. Though contact
metamorphism is distinct from regional metamorphism that is mainly due to pressure. The
igneous rocks that cause the change may be formed by plate tectonics process that also cause
regional metamorphism. Usually, the area that is contact metamorphosed is much smaller than
the area affected by regional metamorphism.
Additional information:
The name "protolith" derives from the pneumonic terms proto, which means first, and lith,
which means rock, i.e., the first rock that underwent metamorphosis. Different initial rocks
will produce different minerals.
Conclusion:
Metamorphic rocks form where a pre-existing rock is subjected to conditions unlike those in which it
formed. Metamorphic rocks are not melted as they form. Metamorphism and metamorphic rocks are
part of the rock cycle which will be discussed to you by Monique and Diona.