3 Types of Metamorphism

Miss Holl
Rowland High School
October 24, 2006
 Outline
• Regional metamorphism
• Contact metamorphism
• Hydrothermal metamorphism

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 Regional Metamorphism
Definition
• Rocks are
metamorphosed
over large areas QuickTime™ and a
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many states or
even several
countries
 Regional Metamorphism
• Caused by tectonic plates smashing
into each other!
 Regional Metamorphism
Conditions
• High pressure
• High temperature
Plate tectonics
• Continents collide (smash into each
other)
• Ocean crust subducts
 Regional Metamorphism
• Pictures

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 Regional Metamorphism
• Himalayan
Mountains -
Continent-
Continent
Collision!
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 Contact Metamorphism
Definition -
• Hot magma or
lava changes
(metamorphoses)
rocks
• Can happen deep
underground or at
the surface
 Contact Metamorphism
Conditions
• low to moderate pressure (P)
– Pressures are generally less than 4
kilobars (Kb)
• low to high temperature (T)
– Temperatures of metamorphism vary
widely from 400-1000 Celcius (C)
 Contact Metamorphism
• Pictures

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 Contact Metamorphism
• Pictures

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Hydrothermal metamorphism

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 Hydrothermal Metamorphism
Definition
• Super-heated ocean water changes
rocks
• Minerals are dissolved or
• mix with ocean water minerals to form
new minerals
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Hydrothermal metamorphism
Conditions
• Super-heated ocean water emitted from
hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor
• High heat
• No pressure
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 Hydrothermal metamorphism
• Pictures
 Hydrothermal metamorphism
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 Summary
Different conditions create different types
of metamorphic rocks QuickTime™ and a
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• High temp, high Pressure - regional

metamorphism
• High temp, low pressure - contact
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metamorphism
• Hot water - hydrothermal
metamorphism
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