PHS 101 Classroom Activities

Chapter 06 A Process of Change Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle --- KEY

Animation: Metamorphic Change

Summary: This animation shows the major processes that form metamorphic rock,
including compression, shear, pressure solution, recrystallization, neocrystallization, and
phase change.

Review and Discussion Questions:

1. If an elongate crystal grows within a metamorphic rock, would you expect its long
axes to be aligned parallel to the direction of maximum compression, or
perpendicular to it?
Answer: Perpendicular to the direction of maximum compression.

2. A sedimentary rock contains quartz, clay minerals, and iron oxides but no other
silicate minerals. It is later metamorphosed without any change in whole-rock
chemistry, but now possesses garnet crystals. How is this possible?
Answer: The clay minerals have changed into garnets, via neocrystallization and
metamorphic reactions.

Narrative Art Video: Rock Cycle

Summary: This video discusses the rock cycle—what it is, the processes inherent to it, and
the potential outcomes for Earth materials as they move through the cycle.

Review and Discussion Questions:

1. What are the processes involved in the rock cycle that modify Earth materials?
Answer: Processes include weathering, erosion, transportation, deposition,
lithification, igneous melt, and metamorphism.

2. How is the rock cycle associated with plate tectonics? What are some of the ways in
which plate tectonics is involved in rock transformation in the rock cycle?
Answer: Some plate tectonic processes are involved in the rock cycle. Subduction
zones lead to partial melt, and to the formation of igneous rocks. Continental
collisions and subduction zones lead to metamorphism. Mountain building leads to
metamorphism, weathering, and erosion. Spreading centers form igneous rock.
Subsidence creates basins where sediments can be deposited, cemented, and
lithified to form sedimentary rocks.

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Think-Pair-Share Question: Metamorphic Environments

1. What are the primary types of metamorphic settings, and what tectonic or Earth
processes are responsible in each?

Answer: Students will likely list thermal (contact), associated with igneous intrusions;
dynamic, associated with faulting and shear stress; and dynamothermal (regional),
associated with tectonic processes and compression over large areas.

2. What degrees of pressure and temperature (quantify as low, medium, and high) are
associated with the major metamorphic settings (contact and dynamothermal or regional)?

Answer: Contact metamorphism involves high heat and low pressure. Dynamothermal
metamorphism involves medium-to-high heat, high pressure, and differential stress.