Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphism

is a process that transforms the mineralogy, texture, and sometimes chemical composition of the parent rock.

Geological Setting Where Metamorphism Takes Place

In environments where temperatures and pressures are more extreme, metamorphism causes a transformation so complete that the identity of the parent rock cannot be easily determined.

Regional

Associated with mountain building, where large segments of Earth’s crust are intensely deformed by the collision of two continental crust blocks.

Subduction

differential stress, rather than confining pressure, plays a major role in deforming rock as it is being metamorphosed.

Contact

occurs in Earth’s upper crust, when rocks immediately surrounding a molten igneous body are baked

Burial

 tends to occur where massive amounts of sedimentary or volcanic material accumulate in a subsiding basin

Fault Zones and Impact site Metamorphism

movement along a fault zone fractures and pulverizes rock. Much of the deformation associated with fault zones occurs at great depth and thus at high temperatures.

Recrystallization

minerals change to form larger crystals or new minerals`

Mineralogy

Changes because the rock is subjected to new conditions.

Foliated

Slate, Gneiss, Phyllite

Non Foliated

Marble, quartz

 Relate the theory of plate tectonics to metamorphic rock

 The amount of change in metamorphic rocks increases as the rocks are exposed to higher temperatures and pressures.

Identify the names, parent rock, textures and composition of some common metamorphic rocks
Identify some mineral and rock resources associated with metamorphic rocks

They use marble and quartz for construction.