Phy. Geol.

Metamorphism and Metamorphic

Rocks
 Chapter Layouts

• Introduction
• Definitions.
• Agents of metamorphism
• Different types of metamorphism.
• Texture of metamorphic rocks.
• Plate tectonics and metamorphism.
• Index minerals and grade metamorphism.
• Metamorphism and natural resources.
 Introduction
• During the rock cycle, rocks may be subject to high
temperatures and pressures high enough to cause
changes in their texture and mineral composition.
processes.
• Subduction of lithospheric plates is one of these
processes that can bring rock material deep enough
in the earth’s crust, where the geothermal gradient
as well as pressure are so high, that chemical
reactions and recrystallization transform rocks
without melting. The result is a large class of rocks
called metamorphic rocks.
8-CO p180
 Definitions
• Metamorphic rocks - from the Greec “changed
rocks”- are the third class of rocks resulting form
the transformation of other rocks called parent
rocks or protolith by subsurface processes.
• During metamorphism, rock are submitted to
sufficient heat, pressure, and fluids activity that
cause changes in their mineral composition, texture,
or both.
Place of metamorphic rocks on the rock cycle
 The Agents of Metamorphism
• The three principal agents of metamorphism are,
heat, pressure, and fluids activity.
• Reactions involving silicate compounds are typically
slow, and since most metamorphic rocks are
composed of silicate minerals, metamorphism is a
very slow process.
 Role of the Heat

• Heat is an important agent of metamorphism

because it increases the rate of chemical reaction.
Bonds between atoms and molecules in mineral
crystals are broken, allowing new mineral
arrangements, thus metamorphism occurs.
• The source of heat is usually provided a nearby
magmatic intrusion, a lava flow, and most
importantly subduction of plates along convergent
boundaries.
 Role of Pressure
• Pressure like temperature changes a rock mineral
composition, mineralogy and texture. During burial, solid
rock is subject to two basic kinds of pressure also called
stress:
- Confined pressure , that is a general force applied equally
in all direction.
- Directed pressure that is applied in one particular
direction usually up to down.
• Pressure like temperature cause chemical bonds to break
permitting new arrangement in the rock resulting in
metamorphism.
Lithospheric Pressure
 Role of Hydrothermal Fluids

• Hot fluids may also contain metallic ions in solution

that enhance metamorphism by increase the rate of
chemical reactions.
• When the rock is submitted to the lithostatic pressure,
it is squeezed, and fluids are released.
• The metallic ions come in contact within the
surrounding rocks and are eventually traded with the
elements in these rock. A change in mineral
composition of rocks takes place, and a particular
feature of metamorphism called metasomatism
occurs.
 Different Types of Metamorphism

• Metamorphism is an active process found in

different parts of the globe.
• Geologists are able to duplicate metamorphic
conditions in the laboratory, and determine the
precise conditions of temperature, pressure, and
parent rock composition.
• The following are the main types of metamorphism:
 Different types of metamorphism
Regional metamorphism
Contact metamorphism
Shock metamorphism

Seafloor metamorphism

Burial metamorphism
 Contact Metamorphism
• Contact metamorphism takes place where a body of
magma intrudes in the crust and alter the
surrounding country rock. At shallow depths, the
intruding magma bring enough heat to induce a
thermal alteration.
• The degree of metamorphism depends on the
distance from the intruding body. The closer to the
source of heat, the higher the degree of
transformation is.
 Regional Metamorphism
• Most metamorphic rocks result from regional
metamorphism, which occurs over a large area and
usually caused by tremendous temperature,
pressure, and deformations all happening together
within deeper portions of the crust. These
conditions are characteristic of continental
convergent plate boundaries.
 Other Types of metamorphism
 Seafloor metamorphism: Also called metasomatism, it
is limited to the mid-ocean ridge. The increase of
temperature promotes chemical reactions between the
seawater and the rock forming altered basalt whose
chemical composition differs from the original basalt.
 Shock metamorphism: very limited areas where
meteorites hit the surface of the earth. The high speed
and the violence of the impact bring heat and pressure
that can definitely cause a change in mineralogy,
chemical composition, and texture of the original rock.
 Burial metamorphism: Located where subsidence
( sinking of layers)is active and layers buried deep under
heavy overlaying material can undergo metamorphism.
 Texture of Metamorphic Rocks.
• A - Foliated metamorphic rocks:
Rocks subjected to heat and pressure typically have minerals arranged in a
parallel fashion giving them a foliated texture
- Slate: Is the lowest grade, very fine-grained foliated metamorphic
rock with grains so small the foliation is sometimes not obvious.
Nevertheless they exhibit a slaty texture making them splitting easily along
cleavage surfaces.
- Phyllite: Is a slightly higher grade metamorphic rock similar to
slate but with larger grains. It can be distinguished from slate by its glossy
shine and a wavy foliation.
- Schist: It is a medium grade metamorphic rock showing platy
minerals large enough to be seen by naked eye. They exhibit a wavy
foliation of dark and clear minerals starting to show up in the rock. They
also exhibit a sparckling shine.
- Gneiss: They show an even coarser foliation with bands of light-
colored quartz and feldspar minerals, alternating with bands of dark-
colored amphibole minerals are easily seen.
 Foliated rocks

Diagenesis Low grade Intermediate High grade

Slate Phyllite Schist Gneiss Migmatite
 Texture of Metamorphic Rocks (con..)
B- Non-foliated Metamorphic rocks:
• In some metamorphic rocks, the mineral grains do not show
a preferred orientation. Instead, theses rocks consist of a
mosaic of roughly equidimentional minerals.
• When they are made of mainly one mineral, they are called
granoblastic metamorphic rocks. Ex: Marble, and quartzite.
• Sometimes, large mineral gems are blasted in a fine matrix.
They confer to the metamorphic rock a porphyric texture.
 Non-Foliated Texture

Granoblastic Texture
Prophyric Texture
Classification of Metamorphic Rocks by Texture.
 Index Minerals and Metamorphic Grade
• From field study and laboratory experiments, certain
minerals are known to form under specific temperature and
pressure ranges. These minerals are called index minerals
• Metamorphic grade is a term that characterizes the degree
to which a rock has undergone metamorphic change.
• The appearance of certain minerals in the metamorphic rock
is a good geothermometer and geobarometer . Indicating
both the temperature and the pressure under which the
mineral forms.
Metamorphic grade and facies deriving from a sedimentary rock

Low Intermediate metamorp

Metamorp. increasing metamor. grade
Slate Phyllite

Shist

Gneiss
Blue shist
Migmatite

High metamorphism
Index Minerals and Metamorphic Grade
 Plate Tectonic and Metamorphism
• Although metamorphism is associated with all three types of
plate boundaries, it is most common along convergent plate
margins. Metamorphic rocks form at convergent boundaries
because temperature and pressure increase as a result of
plates collision.
• As subduction along oceanic-continental convergent plate
boundaries continues, both temperature and pressure
increase with depth and yield high grade metamorphic rocks.
• In the case of continental-continental collision, regional
metamorphism within the mountain range along the
convergent plate boundary.
 Metamorphism and Natural Resources
• Many metamorphic minerals and rocks are valuable natural
resources. Two most familiar and widely used rocks are
marble and slate, especially in construction and roofing.
• During contact metamorphism, ion-rich fluids migrate from
the magma intrusion to the surrounding country rock
contributing to the formation of large metallic
accumulations such as galena (lead), pyrite (iron), and
sphalerite (Zinc).
• Other economically important minerals are asbestos used in
insulation and fire proofing and buildings, graphite used in
pencils, corundum, diamond and garnet as abrasives and
gemstones.