Metamorphic Rocks

Gneiss
Metamorphic rocks are:
the result of the
application of heat,
pressure and directed
stress, or some
combination of these
effects applied to pre-
existing rock of any type.

The process by which

metamorphic rocks are
produced is called
metamorphism. Slate
 Metamorphic Rocks
 2 TYPES OF TEXTURES – FOLIATED
AND NON-FOLIATED

 Foliated = banded rock, minerals are

arranged in bands, or thin sheets/layers

 Non-foliated = unbanded rock, usually

consist of all one type of mineral so may
appear to have a granular or uniform texture
 Ex.) quartz (sand grains) makes up quartzite,
calcite (limestone) makes up marble
 Foliated –vs- Non-foliated
Metamorphic Textures
Foliated – looking at thin Non-foliated – looking at thin
section under microscope section under microscope
 Foliated Texture
 Forms when minerals (many of which are platy micas
such as biotite and muscovite) line up producing a
distinct layering in the rock.

 Minerals tend to line up perpendicular to the

pressure
Foliated Texture
 Foliated Texture
The layering of minerals produces three distinctly different looking rocks,
those with slaty cleavage (e.g. slate), schistosity (e.g. schist), and
mineral banding (or gneiss texture).
Changes undergone to rocks during
metamorphism
Slaty Cleavage Foliation
Slate

Phyllite

Phyllite
 Schistosity Foliation

Mica Schist

Schist
Garnet Schist
Banding in Foliation
Gneiss
 TYPES OF METAMORPHISM:

 REGIONAL – large scale metamorphism

(over large areas , up to thousands of
square feet) – think mountains

 LOCAL – smaller scale metamorphism

 Contact – think burn on
your finger
 Deformational/Dynamic –
think bent finger – smashed
in the door
Types of Metamorphism
( T, P) Regional Metamorphism
 Occurs during mountain building
 On a large scale (over large
areas)

 Forms most of the

metamorphic rocks of Earth’s
crust

 Rocks are subject to high heat and

high pressure

 The result is a rock that has

pronounced foliation and layering.
(The foliation is usually perpendicular
to the direction of the applied stress.)
 Local Metamorphism –
( T) Contact
 Occurs on a smaller scale
 when hot magma (liquid
and gases) move into the
parent/country rock,
heating and changing it. (so
its close to magma)

 Usually non-foliated and

appear to have a sugary
texture
 Local Metamorphism –
( T, P) Deformational/Dynamic

 Occurs on a smaller scale

 in fault zones (so
friction & pressure
change the rock)
 Can have sugary texture
(non-foliated) or be
foliated
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks
 Quartzite – parent rock is Sandstone
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks
 Marble – parent rock is Limestone
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks
 Slate – parent rock is Shale
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks
 Phyllite – parent rock is Shale
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks
 Schist – parent rock is Shale (sometimes
granite or other rocks, depending on the
content)

Mica Schist

Garnet Schist
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks
 Gneiss – parent rock is Shale, Granite, or
conglomerate (sometimes other rocks,
depending on the content)
(Metamorphic Website)