EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE

ENGR. JOHNMAR M. FORTES

TEACHER
METAMORPHISM in rocks
Metamorphism comes from the Greek words meta and morph which means change and form,
respectively.

it is the isochemical process by which rocks are changed by heat and pressure or some chemically
active fluids. Physical and chemical changes occur in rocks due to these factors.
METAMORPHISM in rocks
There are two types of metamorphism:

1. Regional metamorphism
This is caused by large geologic processes such as mountain-building. This is commonly associated
with convergent plate boundaries and the formation of mountain ranges.
METAMORPHISM in rocks

Regional metamorphism is associated with the major

events of Earth dynamics, and the vast majority of
metamorphic rocks are so produced.

They are the rocks involved in the cyclic processes of

erosion, sedimentation, burial, metamorphism, and
mountain building (orogeny), events that are all
related to major convective processes in Earth’s
mantle.

Most regionally metamorphosed rocks develop

primarily in response to continent-continent collision
and to collision between oceanic and continental
plates.
METAMORPHISM in rocks
2. Contact metamorphism

This occurs when magma comes in contact with an already existing body of rock. When this happens
the existing rocks temperature rises and also becomes penetrated with fluid from the magma. It is a
static thermal metamorphism in the vicinity of hot intrusive igneous bodies.
METAMORPHISM in rocks
3. Burial metamorphism

Burial metamorphism occurs when sediments or rocks are deeply buried and so subjected to increased
pressure from the weight of the sediments above them. As the depth of burial increases, so does the
temperature. Burial may occur separate from or as part of regional metamorphism. The weight of the
overlying sediments forces fluids out of pore spaces between mineral grains. This fluid then reacts with
the minerals, a chemical process called metasomatism.
METAMORPHISM in rocks
4. Shock metamorphism

Rarely, Earth is struck by a comet or an asteroid. Impacts generate a compressional shock wave.
Extremely high pressure and heat that vaporizes or melts large masses of rock. These conditions
generate high-pressure minerals

Breccias
Impact breccias are notion to be diagnostic of an
impact occasion consisting of an asteroid or comet
placing the Earth and are typically located at impact
craters.
SPECIFIC CONDITIONS FOR METAMORPHOSIS
1. High Heat
2. High Pressure
3. Hot mineral reach fluid

Pressure
It is the measure of the stress or physical force applied to the surface of a material. Pressure increases
with depth. The higher the pressure the greater the degree of metamorphism.

Pressure is applied to rocks in three different ways:

1. Pore pressure
2. Load Pressure
3. Tectonic Pressure
1. Pore Pressure 2. Load Pressure

It is the pressure applied by fluids trapped in
sediments or grains of porous rocks. The presence of
water speeds up reactions by acting as catalyst and
increases the rate of ion exchange. This happens at
the subduction zone
The weight of overlying rocks that physically brings
materials into contact with each other over very
long periods of time

3. Tectonic Pressure

Rocks undergo folding or faulting due to very high

pressures exerted over relatively short periods of
time.
Temperature
Temperature is a physical quantity that expresses hotness and coldness or a measure of the average
kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules in the system.

As the temperature increases, the rate of metamorphic reactions also increases. Temperature also
increases with depth due to the geothermal gradient.

If rocks are buried within the Earth, the deeper the rock gets, the higher the temperature it experiences.
FLUID PHASE
The fluid phase is essential because chemical reactions that involve altering a solid mineral into a
new solid mineral can be greatly speeded up by having dissolved ions transported by fluid.

Metasomatism
It is the chemical alteration of a rock by hydrothermal and other fluids. It is the replacement of one
rock by another of different mineralogical and chemical composition. The minerals which compose
the rocks are dissolved and new mineral formations are deposited in their place. Dissolution and
deposition occur simultaneously, and the rock remains solid.
METAMORPHIC GRADE
A general term for describing the relative temperature and pressure conditions under which
metamorphic rocks form.

As the temperature and pressure increases on a body of rock then the grade of metamorphism
increases.

Knowledge of metamorphic grade and the facies produced allows geologists to map pressure and
temperature zones within metamorphic rocks and to understand the intense forces required to form
specific rocks, precious minerals and to build continents.

By performing metamorphic facies interpretations, geologists can determine the geologic history of
vast regions of the Earth.
 LOW - GRADE METAMORPHISM

This is characterized by Hydrous Minerals (minerals that contain water in their crystal structure).
takes place at temperature between 200 to 320 degrees C and relatively low pressure.

Examples

Clay Minerals Chlorite

Serpentine often form in clay-rich sedimentary rocks
hydrous aluminum phyllosilicates,
a rock composed mainly of serpentine that are buried in deep sedimentary basins
sometimes with variable amounts of iron,
minerals or subjected to regional metamorphism at
magnesium, alkali metals, alkaline earths,
a convergent plate boundary
and other cations
MEDIUM - GRADE METAMORPHISM

takes place at temperature between 320 to 450 degrees C and at moderate pressure. Pressure variations
play an important role in determining the stability of various minerals formed in this grade.

Examples

Muscovite Biotite Garnet

hydrous mineral that eventually a hydrous mineral that is non hydrous mineral
disappears at highest grade stable to very high grades of
metamorphism metamorphism
HIGH - GRADE METAMORPHISM

takes place at temperature above 450 degrees C and at moderate pressure. As grade of metamorphism
increases, hydrous minerals become less hydrous, by losing H 2 O, and non-hydrous minerals become
more common.

Examples

Megmatite
Pyroxene
a rock composed of a metamorphic (altered) host
the most common single-
material that is streaked or veined with granite rock;
the name means “mixed rock.” chain silicate minerals.
 Metamorphic rock textures
1. Foliated Metamorphic rocks - rocks that have a layered or banded appearance that is produced
by exposure to heat and direct pressure. When a rock with flat or elongated minerals is put under
immense pressure, the minerals line up in layers, creating foliation.

Foliated rocks most often formed from mudstones and contain fine-grained or platy minerals that
are usually too small to see with the naked eye.

The mineral flakes appear to be parallel to the rock and look layered. when a foliated rock breaks, a
thin rock fragment will result.

Granite
light-colored igneous rock with grains
large enough to be visible with the unaided
eye.
Slate
Mudstone
a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous
a fine-grained sedimentary rock
metamorphic rock derived from an original
whose original constituents were
shale-type sedimentary rock composed of
clays or muds
clay or volcanic ash
 Metamorphic rock textures
2. Non-foliated rocks - These have no evident planar fabric or foliation, crystallized under conditions where
there were no differential stress. They do not contain the minerals that tend to line up under pressure and
thus do not have the layered appearance of foliated rocks.

Sedimentary rocks like bituminous coal, limestone, and sandstone, given enough heat and pressure, can
turn into nonfoliated metamorphic rocks like anthracite coal, marble, and quartzite.

These rocks are created if the pressure applied to the recrystallizing rocks is equal all over.

Quartzite
If minerals can foliate,
Marble
a nonfoliated metamorphic rock composed
metamorphic rock that forms when
but haven't...the rock was not subjected to almost entirely of quartzrived from an
limestone is subjected to the heat and
directed pressure original shale-type sedimentary rock
pressure of metamorphism
composed of clay or volcanic ash