Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks
What are metamorphic rocks
Factors controlling metamorphism
Kinds of metamorphism
Classification of metamorphic
rocks

What are metamorphic

rocks?

Increases in heat and pressure and changes in

chemical environment can alter the mineral
composition and crystalline textures of
sedimentary and igneous rocks even though they
remain solid all the while (i.e. they do not melt)
Limestone
Sandstone
Shale
Shale/sandstone
Shale
Shale/sandstone

Marble
Quartzite (meta-quartzite
Slate
Schist
Hornfels
Gneiss

What are metamorphic

rocks?
Causes of metamorphism

Heat & Pressure

Factors Controlling
Metamorphism

Metamorphic changes bring a pre-existing rock

into equilibrium with new surroundings

Temperature
Re-crystalisation new mineral assemblages
Segregation of new minerals banding

Pressure
Confining pressure acts in all directions

alters mineralogy by squeezing atoms into a

denser state
Directed pressure acting in a particular
direction convergent plate boundaries
causes preferred orientation - foliation

Factors Controlling
Metamorphism
Chemical metamorphic changes
Introduction & removal of chemical

components
Hydrothermal fluids associated with
magma cooling will react with existing
rocks replacing one mineral with another
without changing the texture of the rock
metasomatism
Many valuable deposits of Cu, Pb, Zn etc
formed in this way

Factors Controlling
Metamorphism
Fluids in Metamorphism
Most chemical & mineralogical changes are

associated with fluids which permeate the solid

rock
Water containing carbon dioxide is most common
Accelerates metamorphic chemical reactions by
allowing movement of ions. Water can migrate
through the rock.
Pore water and chemically bound water are lost
during metamorphism the higher the
metamorphic grade the lower the water content.

Kinds of Metamorphism
Regional
Contact

Regional
Contact

Burial
Cataclastic Hydrothermal

Classification of
Metamorphic Rocks

Foliated Rocks
A set of flat or wavey parallel planes
produced by the preferred orientation of
minerals, particularly platey minerals like
mica

Classification of
Criteria
Metamorphic Rocks
Foliated Rocks

Nature of foliation
Grain size
Degree of banding
Metamorphic grade

Classification of
Metamorphic
Rocks
Foliated Rocks
Slate
Schist
Gneiss

Classification of
Non-foliated
Rocks
Metamorphic
Rocks
Hornfels
Product of contact metamorphism
Uniform grain size- little or no deformation plate/elongate

crystals are randomly orientated

Often harder and more brittle than parent rock

Marble
Product of heat & pressure acting on limestone or dolomite
Often show irregular banding or mottling due to impurities
Granular texture

Quartzite
Derived from quartz-rich sandstones (contact or regional

metamorphism) often very hard and extremely strong