Rocks of varying types are found down

the earth’s interior and as we move

deeper, the temperature and pressure
become greater. So, what happens to
those rocks? Are those same these
steaks? Lets find out!
Metamorphism
The word "Metamorphism" comes from the Greek words: meta = after, morph = form meaning; “the
after form”. In geology this refers to the changes in mineral assemblage and texture that result from
subjecting a rock to pressures and temperatures different from those under which the rock originally
formed- the “parent rock” or “protolith” (‘Rocks and the rock cycle”). Protolith can be any type of rock
and sometimes the changes in texture and mineralogy are so dramatic that is difficult to distinguish
what the protolith was (Nelson).
Metamorphism occurs at temperatures and pressures higher than 200oC and 300 MPa (refer to figure
1.0.) 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. Once melting begins the process changes to an igneous
process rather than a metamorphic process.
AGENTS OF METAMORPHISM

• 1. Temperature or Heat
• Temperature increases with depth in the Earth along the Geothermal Gradient. One source of heat
is the heat that comes from the magma rising from below. Another source of heat is when the rocks
formed at the surface of Earth are transplanted to greater depth. Heat causes chemical reactions
that result in recrystallization of existing minerals and/ or formation of new minerals.
• 2. Pressure and Stress
• Pressure increases with depth as rocks are buried which causes stress on rocks. It causes the
spaces between mineral grains in the buried rock to close, producing a more compact rock with
higher density. At greater depth, minerals may recrystallize into new minerals that display a more
compact structure. (Refer to the following figures on the effects
• of stress to rocks)
Figure 2.1. Rounded grains can become flattened in the direction of maximum stress
Figure 2.2. Minerals that crystallize or grow in the differential stress field can have a preferred orientation. This is
especially true of the sheet silicate minerals (the micas: biotite and muscovite, chlorite, talc, and serpentine). These
sheet silicates will grow with their sheets orientated perpendicular to the direction of maximum stress. Preferred
orientation of sheet silicates causes rocks to be easily broken along approximately parallel sheets. Such a structure is
called a foliation
3. Chemically active fluids
These include water, carbon dioxide, and other volatile materials which act as catalyst to promote
crystallization by enhancing ion migrations that may change the composition of the rock.
• 4. Time
• Metamorphism involves changing the rock while it is solid, metamorphic change is a slow process.
During metamorphism, several processes are at work. Recrystallization causes changes in minerals
size and shape. Chemical reactions occur between the minerals to form new sets of minerals that
are more stable at the pressure and temperature of the environment, and new minerals form. The
mineral grains produced during metamorphism increases with time producing coarse grained
metamorphic rocks.
THE MINERAL ASSEMBLAGE (MINERAL COMPOSITION) OF THE RESULTING METAMORPHIC
ROCK IS INFLUENCED BY THE FOLLOWING:

• - Bulk composition and or Mineral composition of the original or parent rock

• - The amount and attained pressure and temperature during metamorphism
• - Composition of fluid phase that was present during metamorphism (Nelson, 2011).
GRADE OF METAMORPHISM AND TEXTURAL CHANGES THAT OCCUR TO ROCKS WHEN
THEY ARE SUBJECTED TO METAMORPHISM

Metamorphic grade is a general term for describing the relative temperature and pressure conditions
under which metamorphic rocks form. As the temperature and/or pressure increases on a body of
rock, it undergoes prograde metamorphism or that the grade of metamorphism increases.
Low-grade metamorphism takes place at temperatures between about 200 to 320oC, and relatively
low pressure. Low grade metamorphic rocks are characterized by an abundance of hydrous
minerals (minerals that contain water, H2O, in their crystal structure). High-grade metamorphism
takes place at temperatures greater than 320oC and relatively high pressure. As grade of
metamorphism increases, hydrous minerals become less hydrous, by losing H2O and non-hydrous
minerals become more common refer to the table below.
 Less hydrous minerals and non-
Hydrous minerals that occur in low
hydrous minerals that characterize
grade metamorphic rocks
high grade metamorphic rocks

Muscovite - hydrous mineral that

Clay Minerals eventually disappears at the highest
grade of metamorphism

Biotite - a hydrous mineral that is stable

Serpentine
to very high grades of metamorphism.

Pyroxene - a non hydrous mineral.

Chlorite
Garnet - a non hydrous mineral.
Sometimes the protoliths are a metamorphic rocks and that parent rock is metamorphosed into a new
metamorphic rock that has experienced a different grade (intensity) of metamorphism thus, the
intensity of metamorphism affects the mineral crystallization and alignment as you increase the
intensity of metamorphism by either increasing the temperature, pressure, or both temperature and
pressure at the same time.
Effect of increasing metamorphic grade
• Metamorphic rocks never melt. Different grades of metamorphism can produce characteristic
changes in texture and mineralogy of the rock.
• Low grade: no visible crystals, flat and platy, foliated (layered)
• Intermediate grade: foliated (layered), crystals start to enlarge and align themselves in a needle
like pattern, then becoming more organized with larger crystals as the intensity of the
metamorphism increases.
• High grade: foliated (layered), crystals become more organized possibly in alternating bands of
crystals
Foliation of rocks at greater pressure
The table below shows the list of metamorphic rocks and their parent rocks
LIST OF METAMORPHIC ROCKS AND THEIR PARENT ROCK
Changes occurs during Metamorphism
As rocks are subjected to great heat and pressure they begin to
undergo several changes.
• Changes in the minerals
• Folding and bending of rocks causing change in its shape
• Recrystallization causes changes in minerals size and shape
• Chemical reaction occurs between the minerals to form new sets of
minerals that are more stable at the pressure and temperature of
the environment, and new minerals form as a result of polymorphic
phase transformation.
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM
• Contact metamorphism
• Regional metamorphism
• Dynamic metamorphism
• Burial metamorphism
• Shock metamorphism
• Fault metamorphism
• Hydrothermal metamorphism
• Subduction metamorphism
Contact metamorphism
• If rock is in contact or lose to magma then the heat bakes the nearby
rock just around the magma, (also called thermal metamorphism)
• Occurs adjacent to igneous intrusions and results from high
temperatures associated with the igneous intrusion.
• Contact metamorphism is usually referred to as high temperature,
low pressure metamorphism.
Regional Metamorphism
• Large scale metamorphism that occurs during mountain building
• This type of metamorphism occurs over large areas that were
subjected to high degrees of deformation under different stress.
• The differential stress usually results from tectonic forces that
produce a compression of the rocks.
• Usually results in forming metamorphic rocks that are strongly
foliated, such as slates, schist, and gneisses.
Dynamic Metamorphism
• This type of metamorphism is due to mechanical deformation, like
when two bodies of rock slide past one another along a fault zone
• Heat is generated by the friction of sliding along the zone, and the
rocks tend to crushed and pulverized due to the sliding
• Dynamic metamorphism is not very common and is restricted to a
narrow zone along which sliding occurred.
• The rock that is produced is called a mylonite.
Burial Metamorphism
• When sedimentary rocks are buried to depths of several hundred
meters, temperatures greater than 300 degree Celsius may develop in
the absence of differential stress.