Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks that are formed by heat and/or

pressure
(but not completely melted)

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Metamorphic rocks are formed by:
• Regional metamorphism
–Involves mostly pressure
• Contact metamorphism
–Involves mostly heat

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Metamorphism by Pressure
What do you think causes enough
pressure to metamorphose miles of
rock?

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 Causes flattening of mineral
crystals

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Metamorphism by Pressure
• Pressure often causes realignment
of intergrown mineral crystals
– Called banding
– Or foliation
foliation
banding

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Banding

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 Foliation

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Regional Metamorphism

• Mountain building activity

• Involves large areas

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 Large-scale
metamorphism

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Metamorphism by Heat
Known as contact metamorphism

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 Contact Metamorphism
• Also known as thermal metamorphism
– Creates baked rock
• ex. hornfels

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 Contact Metamorphism
• Igneous intrusion
–Where molten rock is forced
between existing rock
–Tends to bake (metamorphose)
part of the existing rock

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Increasing degrees of metamorphism

Rocks
melt
in
this
range
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Composition of metamorphic rock is
determined by:

• Conditions of metamorphism
• Mineralogy of parent (original)
rock

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 Great heat and pressure

limestone marble
(small crystals) (large crystals)

In this example the mineral composition

stays the same

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shale slate
In this example the minerals in shale
actually change into other
minerals during metamorphosis

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• Some metamorphic rocks
can form from several
different parent rocks
–Ex. Gneiss may form from
sandstone, shale or granite

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Where can you find this image?

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When sandstone is subjected to heat and or
pressure it becomes what?

 Is marble a foliated or non-foliated

metamorphic rock?

 Name three minerals in schist

 What is the only metamorphic rock in your

ESRT that exhibits banding?
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 How to identify rocks
Interlocking crystals?
s no
ye

Igneous/metamorphic sedimentary

banding/foliation?

s no
ye

metamorphic igneous
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 Rocks
• All rocks are classified on the basis of
how they formed
– Sedimentary rocks form from bits and
pieces of existing rock
– Igneous rocks form from molten minerals
– Metamorphic rocks form from existing
rocks that are changed by heat and/or
pressure
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 Rock Cycle

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 Rock Cycle
• Nearly all rocks are formed from other
rocks
• Exceptions include
– coal
– Fossil limestone
• Some rocks exist for thousands to
billions of years before undergoing
change
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