Metamorphic Rocks. What is a metamorphic rock? Rocks in which minerals, texture and/or structures...

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What is a metamorphic rock?

Rocks in which minerals, texture and/or structures have been changed by heat and/or pressure

Conditions for metamorphism

Temperature

Pressure

Chemically active fluids

What is the relationship between temperature & Metamorphic

Rock?1. Below 200°C – rocks are stable for

millions of years2. 200 - 600°C – still below melting

point (solid) but some atoms are able to move around and rearrange

3. Above 600°C – minerals begin to melt (form igneous rocks)

How does pressure make a metamorphic rock?

About 1 mile to 25 miles deep – vertical pressure from overlying rocks

How does pressure make a metamorphic rock?

Along continental margins – due to mountain building forces (horizontal pressure)

How are chemically active fluids

used to make metamorphic rocks?Water in pore spaces aids in atomic

movement

What results from metamorphism?

Same amount of mass squeezed into a smaller volume, density increases

Spaces between rocks (cracks, etc.) are squeezed shut, porosity decreases

What results from metamorphism?

Existing crystals become aligned perpendicular to pressure

What results from metamorphism?

New minerals are formed because atoms have different “comfortable position” under new temperature and pressure conditions

Metamorphic Textures

Foliation: non-continuous “layering” due to mineral alignment perpendicular to pressure

What are the metamorphic textures?

1. Slatey cleavage – tendency of fine-grained rock to split along foliation planes (not necessarily coincident with stratification)

What are the metamorphic textures?

2. Schistosity – visible parallel crystals of mica, chlorite, or talc

What are the metamorphic textures?

3. Gneissic layering – alternating light and dark minerals

What are the metamorphic textures?

Non-foliated: single mineral rocks have crystals that grow equally in all directions

Examples: Quartzite Marble

What are the foliated metamorphic rocks?

1. Slate – metamorphosed shale or an extrusive igneous rock

Dull looking - Platy

What are the foliated metamorphic rocks?

2. Phyllite – shiny surface on foliation planes, micro-crystals began to develop

Sheen

What are the foliated metamorphic rocks?

3. Schist – visible parallel crystals of mica

Looks sparkly

What are the foliated metamorphic rocks?

4. Gneiss – alternating bands of light and dark crystals

What are the foliated metamorphic rocks?

Granite

Shale Slate Phyllite Schist Gneiss

Smooth Platy Sheen Sparkly Layers (Dull)

What are the Non-foliated Metamorphic Rocks?

Quartzite – metamorphosed sandstonesandstoneVery hard

What are the Non-foliated Metamorphic Rocks?

Marble – metamorphosed limestoneFizzes with acid

What are the Non-foliated Metamorphic Rocks?

Metaconglomerate/metabreccia – rock breaks through instead of around clasts

Examples:Metaconglomerate Metabreccia

What are the types of metamorphism?

Regional metamorphism

Contact Metamorphism

Regional MetamorphismPressure from force

colliding crustal plates

Temperature raised by compression, friction, and movement inward toward interior

Associated with linear mountain chains

Contact Metamorphism

Results from physical contact with somethinga. magma or lava (high temperature, low pressure)b. meteorites (low temperature, high pressure)

Contact Metamorphism

Small scale

Pressure due to gravity, any foliation which forms is usually horizontal

Where rocks form determines what kind of rock will be produced.

Rock Cycle

Rock Cycle

Metamorphic Rock Lab

Use your dichotomous key to identif y all seven rocks

I. Answer questions A – D for all 7 rockspecimensA. Is the rock foliated or not?B. Describe the distinguishing properties of each

rock, especially metamorphic textures. (Howwould you recognize another specimen of thesame rock?)

C. Give the rock name.D. What kind (name) of rock was this before it

was metamorphosed?

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II. Put the foliated specimens in order ofincreasing metamorphism.Least heat and pressure a. ____ ___ ___ ___ ___

b. ____ ___ _____ ___ _

c. ____ _____ ___ ___ _

d. __ _____ ___ ___ ___

III. Read pages 49- 53 in the plum Tarbuck bookAnswer questions 12-15 on pages 57.

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