Types of Metamorphism

&
Metamorphism in relation to Plate
Tectonics

Asad Muhammad
Department of Geology
University of Malakand
Types of Metamorphism
On the basis of (i) Geological setting, and (ii) agents of
metamorphism, the type of metamorphism includes:

- Regional extent (over a wide area)

- Orogenic metamorphism (T, P, active fluids)

- Ocean floor metamorphism (T)
- Subduction zone metamorphism (HP/LT)
- Burial metamorphism (LT/LP)

- Local extent (local area)

- Contact or thermal metamorphism (T)
- Cataclastic or shear zone metamorphism (P)
- Hydrothermal metamorphism (active fluids)
- Impact or shock metamorphism (extreme P-T)
 A1: Orogenic metamorphism
(Regional or Dynamothermal metamorphism)

Features of orogenic
metamorphism :
- Where?: Restricted to orogenic belts and
extend over distance of hundreds to Kms,
e.g. East-African orogen
- The agents of metamorphism: include T, P
& active chemical solution
-Time duration is long (million or tens of
millions years)
- The yielded rocks suffered deformation and
recrystallization, and exhibit penetrative
fabric with preferred orientation of mineral
grains. They could suffered phases of
crystallization and deformation
- At higher P-T conditions, partial to
complete melting may accompanied and
both migmatites and granites may
associates, or granulite could be develop.
migmatites
A2: Ocean-Floor Metamorphism
Features of ocean-floor
metamorphism :
- Where?: Restricted to transformation
of the oceanic crust at the vicinity of
mid-ocean ridge
- Occur in the upper part of the oceanic
crust, typically in sheeted dykes
- The agents of metamorphism include
T & sea water percolation
- The yielded rocks are mostly basic
(sheeted dykes) in composition, with no
penetrative fabric (non-foliated texture)
A3: Subduction zone metamorphism
Features of subduction zone
metamorphism :
- where?: At convergence plate
margins, where subduction of cold
oceanic lithosphere and overlying
sediments against an adjacent
continental or oceanic plate.

- The agents of metamorphism include

higher pressure, low temperature
conditions

- The yielded rocks contain high

pressure mineral assemblage such
glaucophane, and kyanite should
formed

-To preserve such environment , the

rock requires rapid uplift
 A4: Burial metamorphism

Features of burial
metamorhism :
- Where?: in subsidence basins, where
sediments and interlayered volcanics
suffered low temperature regional
metamorphism
- Agent of metamorphism include low
temperature-low pressure conditions
due to burial affect without any
influence of orogenesis or magmatic
intrusions.
- The yielded rocks lack schistosity
and the original fabrics are largely
preserved. So, the yielded rocks are
distinguished only in thin section
- In Extensional regime, Diatathermal
metamorphism is used
B1: Contact or thermal metamorphism

Features of Contact or thermal

metamorphism :
- Where ?: At vicinity of contacts with
intrusive or extrusive igneous rock bodies
-Agent of metamorphism is the higher
temperature resulted from heat emanating
from the magma, and sometimes by
deformation connecting with the
emplacement of the igneous bodies.
- The zone of the contact metamorphism is
known as contact aureole, varies from meter
to few kms.
-The width of the zone depend up on:
1- volume of the magmatic bodies
2- nature of the magmatic bodies (basaltic or
granitic composition)
3- The intrusion depth of magmatic bodies.
 B1: Contact or thermal metamorphism, cont.

4- Type of country rocks (Shale,

limestones or igneous rocks)

5- Structures of the country rocks (cracks

and fissures)

- Duration of metamorphism is short time

(up to hundred years)

- The yielded rocks are generally fine

grained and lack Schistosity (hornfels)

- In case of higher temperature influence,

Pyrometamorphism, is used.

- Migmatites could produced in such

conditions.
 B2- Cataclastic or shear zone metamorphism
Features of cataclastic or shear
zone metamorphism :
- Where?: Restricted to the vicinity of
faults of overthrusts in the upper crust
level (brittle deformation)

-Agents of metamorphism is pressure in

form of mechanical forces.

-The yielded rocks suffered crushing,

granulation and pulverization (reducing in
grain size).

- The yielded rocks are non-foliated and

breccia-like, cataclasite, mylonite,
ultramylonite to pseudotachylite.
B2- Cataclastic or shear zone metamorphism

Cataclasite

Mylonite
 B3- Hydrothermal metamorphism
Features of hydrothermal
metamorphism :
- where?: Localized at interaction of hot, largely
aqueous fluids (from igneous source) with
country rocks.
- Similar to regional ocean-floor metamorphism
- The aqueous hydrothermal fluids usually
transported via fractures and shear zones at
some distance either near or far from their source
- The yielded rocks are mineralogically and
chemically changed than the protolith and ore
deposits are occasionally originated

-If the gases instead the aqueous fluids,

Pneumatolytic metamorphism, is used
 B4- Impact or shock metamorphism

Features of impact metamorphism :

- Where?: Impact of fall of meteorites (different size) on the Earth’s crust.

- This impact yielded shock waves with extreme higher P-T conditions, up to
1000 kbar and 5000 °C.

- Duration time is very short, microsecond.

- The impacted rocks were vaporized, but in less condition, they melted to
produce vesicular glass containing coesite and stishovite, as well as minute
diamond
 Metamorphism and plate tectonic

1- Divergent plate margin:

-Ocean floor metamorphism (HT/LP & seawater fluids)

- Diatathermal metamorphism (HT/LP)
- Contact metamorphism (HT/LP)
- Hydrothermal metamorphism (Hydrothermal fluids)
 Metamorphism and Plate Tectonic…
2- Convergent plate metamorphism

-Orogenic condition (various P-T)

- Cataclastic and Subduction zone metamorphism (LT/HP)

3- Transform plate boundaries

- Cataclastic or Subduction zone metamorphism (LT/HP)
Thanks