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Geologi Lab 4
Geologi Lab 4
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To recognize, identified and observed distinguishing features of metamorphic
rock specimen in the laboratory.
2.0 LEARNING OUTCOMES
a)
Characteristic
Parallel
orientation
of
mineral crystals.
Metamorph
ic
Interlocking crystal.
Secondary
cleavage
independent bedding.
Foliation,
schistosity
slaty texture.
and
(b) Description
Physical
Colour
characteristics
1. Define a foliation.
Foliation is any penetrative planar fabric present in rocks. Foliation is
common to rocks affected by regional metamorphic compression typical of orogenic
belts. Rocks exhibiting foliation include the typical sequence formed by the
prograde metamorphism of mudrocks; slate, phyllite, schist and gneiss. The slatey
cleavage typical of slate is due to the preferred orientation of microscopic
phyllosilicate crystals. In gneiss the foliation is more typically represented by
compositional banding due to segregation of mineral phases.
Foliated rock is also known as S-tectonite in sheared rock masses.
2. Distinguish between slaty cleavage, phyllitic, schistosity and gneissic texture.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
8.0 CONCLUSION
Metamorphic rocks form from heat and pressure. Some of the minerals that
make up those rocks also change properties as heat and pressure is applied.
Polymorphs of minerals at different phases result and thus some minerals are only
found in metamorphic rocks. From our observation of the metamorphic rock, it can
be divided into two types of foliation. There are foliated and non-foliated
metamorphic rocks. None foliated metamorphic rock posses similar engineering
properties to igneous rocks. In an unaltered and unfractured condition, they can be
considered to be strong materials, with few limitations for foundations, tunnels and
dams.
In a way similar to the igneous and sedimentary rocks, the behavior of
metamorphic rock mass depends upon the degree and orientation of fractures the
weathering characteristics. There properties must be curtained prior to construction
of each individual engineering project. In construction industry, the significance of
metamorphic rock such as some schists has graphite and some are use as
building stones. Besides that, gneiss is due to physical and chemical similarity
between many gneisses and plutonic igneous rocks some are used as building
stones and other structural purposes.