2016 DSE essay

In terms of the rock cycle, I am going to explain about how sedimentary rocks changed
into metamorphic rocks.There are foliated metamorphic rocks and non-foliated rocks in
the world.

First, I am going to talk about how sedimentary rocks changed into foliated metamorphic
rocks.

Firstly, sedimentary rocks can change to foliated metamorphic rocks by dynamic

metamorphism. It happened under the relative movement of rocks along the faults.
Under high pressure, mineral grains flattened and realigned roughly parallel to shearing
force along faults. There is no or only little change in mineral content. This is how the
sedimentary rocks can change to foliated metamorphic rocks by dynamic
metamorphism.

Secondly, sedimentary rocks can also change to foliated metamorphic rocks by regional
metamorphism. It happened at the convergent boundaries where large-scale
mountain-building processes which are also compressional forces are found. Under the
high-pressure and high temperature, the minerals recrystallise and realign roughly
perpendicular to the direction of compressional force. Only clastic sedimentary rocks
can change to foliated metamorphic rocks under the regional metamorphism. For
example, when sandstone, mudstone and shale are under high-pressure and high
temperature at where the compressional force is, they will change into slate then
change into phyllite by the regional metamorphism. Both of these are fine-grained
foliated metamorphic rocks. Then, they will eventually change to schist and gneiss
which are medium-to coarse-grained foliated metamorphic rocks as regional
metamorphism continues to occur.

Second, I am going to talk about how sedimentary rocks changed into non-foliated
metamorphic rocks. Non-foliated metamorphic rocks can only be formed by thermal
metamorphism. It happened at the contact zone where magma intrusion touches the
existing rock. Under high temperature at the contact zone, minerals melt and
recrystallize to form a new type of rock. This is called thermal metamorphism. Both
clastic and non-clastic sedimentary rock can change into non-foliated metamorphic
rocks. I am going to give three examples of sedimentary rocks changing into
non-foliated metamorphic rocks.
Firstly, I am going to talk about how clastic sedimentary rocks changed into non-foliated
metamorphic rocks by thermal metamorphism. Under high temperature at the contact
zone, sandstone which is a clastic sedimentary rock, melts and recrystallizes to form
quartzite which is a medium-grained metamorphic rock.

Secondly, I am going to talk about how non-clastic sedimentary rocks changed into
non-foliated metamorphic rocks by thermal metamorphism. Under high temperature at
the contact zone, black coal which is a non-clastic sedimentary rock, melts and
recrystallizes to form anthracite which is a fine-grained metamorphic rock. Also, another
example is under high temperature at the contact zone, limestone which is a non-clastic
sedimentary rock, melts and recrystallizes to form marble which is a medium-grained
metamorphic rock.

To sum up, clastic sedimentary rocks can change to foliated metamorphic rocks by
dynamic metamorphism and regional metamorphism. Both clastic sedimentary rocks
and non-clastic sedimentary rocks can change to non-foliated metamorphic rocks by
thermal metamorphism.