METAMORPHISM

Types and Agents

Bhargav Arandhara
M.Sc Disaster Management
1st Year
Metamorphism
• Mineralogical and structural adjustments
of solid rocks to physical and chemical
conditions.
• Changes in mineral assemblage and
texture that results from subjecting a
rock to conditions such as Pressure,
Temperature and Chemical
envirionments.
Metamorphism Types
• Contact Metamorphism (Thermal)

• Barrovian Metamorphism (Regional)

• Cataclastic Metamorphism (Dynamic)

• Shock Metamorphism (Impact)

• Burial Metamorphism

• Hydrothermal Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism
• Occur typically around intrusive igneous
rocks.
• Metamorphic aureole: Area surrounding
the
intrusion where the process affects.
• Grade of metamorphism increases in all
directions towards the intrusions.
Regional
Metamorphism
• Mostly accompanied by deformation
under non hydrostatic or differential
stress conditions.
• Forms strongly foliated metamorphic
rocks (Schists, Slates, etc.)
• Tectonic forces (Compressional stress)
lead to folding of rocks and thickening of
crust.
Fig: Continental Crust, Lithosphere and
Asthenosphere
Cataclastic
Metamorphism
• Result of mechanical deformation.
• Heat is generated by the friction of
sliding along a shear zone.
• Rocks are crushed and pulverized.
Hydrothermal
Metamorphism
• Interaction of rocks with high
temperature fluid of variable composition.
• Invading fluids may be magmatic,
circulating groundwater or oceanwater.
• Fluids escape through vents on the ocean
floor (submarine volcanic areas) known
as black smokers.
Burial Metamorphism
• In the absence of differential stress,
sedimentary rocks buried to depths of
several kilometers.
• Temperature 300*C+
• New minerals grow, rocks donot appear
metamorphosed (Zeolites)
• Grades into regional metamorphism as
temperature and pressure increases.
Shock Metamorphism
• Due to ultrahigh pressures created by
extraterrestrial bodies or huge volcanic
eruptions.
• Can produce minerals stable only at very
high pressures.
• Characterized by ultra high
pressures and low temperature.
Grades of
Metamorphism
Increases with increase in temperature and pressure.
•
• Low grade metamorphism - Low Pressures;
Temperature 200-320*C
• Abundance of hydrous minerals
• Hydrous minerals react with other minerals with increase in grade.
• High Grade Metamorphism – High Pressures;
Temperature > 320*C
• Decrease in hydrosity with increase in temperature.
• Non Hydrous minerals become more common.
Agents of
Metamorphism
• Protolith of the metamorphic rock is transformed by the action of
three agents:
Heat, Pressure and Fluids.

• Heat:
• Atoms may combine differently in different temperatures, a mineral stable at one temperature
may become unstable at another and transform to another with more stable atomic structure.
• Heat acts as a catalyst.
• Pressure:

• One mineral may be converted to another with similar atomic composition

but different atomic packaging with the increase in either or Lithostatic
and differntial pressure.
• Direct Pressure results in reorientation
of minerals resulting in foliation.
• Fluids:

• Speeds up other metamorphic processes.

• Chemical reactions require water.
• Supplies ions or flushes away excess ones for chemical changes in a mineral
to occur
Thank You