METAMORPHIC ROCK
Why study metamorphic rock?
Studies of metamorphic rocks provide insights into the
physical and chemical changes that take place deep within
[Link] presence of index minerals in metamorphic
rocks allows geologists to assess the temperatures and
pressures the parent rock encountered.
Knowledge of metamorphic processes and rocks is
valuable, because metamorphic minerals and rocks have
economic value. For example, slate and marble are
building materials, garnets are used as gemstones and
abrasives, talc is used in cosmetics, paints, and lubricants,
and asbestos is used for insulation and fireproofing.
Metamorphic Rocks
Changes in rock due to
variation in pressure,
temperature or climatic
condition are known as
metamorphic changes and
the process is termed as
metamorphism. Metamorphic
rocks are mainly classified
into two major classes:
Foliated metamorphic rock
Non foliated metamorphic
rock
Metamorphism
Is the process that occur in the rock due to
effect of:-
High temperature
High pressure
Chemically active fluid
Temperature
The source of temperature is either from magma or due
to depth factor.
Metamorphism usually result into change in minimum
composition and texture of rock. Which are subjected to
temperature >100°c and pressure >1000 Mpa .
Low grade metamorphism:- occur at about 100°c to
500°c.
High- grade metamorphism:- Occurs at > 500°c
Pressure:-
Uniform pressure Direct pressure
- Increases with depth due to - Increases with depth upto some
increase in overburden. extent, effective in the upper part
of the crust.
- Acts vertically downwards and - Acts in all direction and affects only
affects the volume of both liquid on solids resulting into deformation
& solids. of shape and change in mineral
composition
- High temperature is also
- High temperature is not always
associated with (due to depth
associated. to depth factor)
factor)
- Lithostatic pressure- due to - Stress- due to tectonic
overburden forces
Continue….
Lithostatic pressure results
from the weight of overlying
rocks, is applied equally in all
directions, and increases
with depth of burial.
Cataclastic metamorphism
• This type of metamorphism occurs mainly due to direct
pressure
• eg. when two bodies of rock slide past one another along a
fault zone. Heat is generated by the friction of sliding along the
zone, and the rocks tend to crushed and pulverized due to the
sliding.
• Cataclastic metamorphism is mere mechanical breakdown of
rocks without any new mineral formation, however, sometime
due to intense shearing few new minerals are formed.
• It is also known as dynamic metamorphism.
Contact Metamorphism
This type of metamorphism occurs locally adjacent to the igneous intrusion;
with high temp. and low stress
There is little change in bulk composition of the rock
Area surrounding the intrusion (Batholith) is heated by the magma;
metamorphism is restricted to a zone surrounding the intrusion, this zone is
know as METAMORPHIC AUREOLE.
The rocks formed are non-foliated fine-grained rocks called as
HORNFELS.
It is also known as thermal metamorphism.
Regional Metamorphism-
metamorphism occurs covering larger area, which is subjected to intense
deformation under direct or differential stress.
Rocks formed under such environment are usually strongly foliated, such
as slates, schists, and gniesses.
The differential stresses result from tectonic forces,
eg. when two continental masses collide with one another resulting into
mountain building activity. Compressive stresses result in folding of the
rock
It is also known as dynamothermal metamorphism.
o Metasomatic metamorphism:-
It is the process of altering the compostion of a rock,
either by the addition or subtraction of chemical element.
In this chemically active fluid are predominant.
o Geothermal metamorphism:-
In this uniform pressure is predominant.
Types of Metamorphic Rocks
FOLIATED
The common foliated rocks in the order of increasing grain size are
SLATE – PHYLLITE – SCHIST – GNEISS
NON-FOLIATED
Quartzites and hornfels
1)Foliated:-
These have a planar foliation caused by the preferred
orientation (alignment) of minerals and formed under
differential stress.
They have a significant amount of sheet silicate (platy
minerals and are classified by composition, grain size, and
foliation type.
2) Non foliated:-
These have no evident planar fabric or foliation,
crystallized under conditions where there was no
differential stress, and are comprised of equant minerals
only. These are classified mainly by the minerals present
or the chemical composition of the protolith.
Properties of Metamorphic rocks:
Color: It is the color of rock as seen from naked eyes.
Grain size: Size of the grain observed may be either of the
given three types:
Coarse grain:Average grain size more than 5 mm.
Medium grained:Average grain size 5-1mm
Fine grained:Average grain size less than 1mm.
Shape: It is the shape of grains present in the rocks.
Following are the shape of the grains:
a) Rounded b)Sub rounded C)Angular
Structure
Following are the structures of the metamorphic rocks:-
A) Gneissose structure: Presence of equidimensional
minerals along with flacky minerals.
b)Schistose structure: Only flacky , platy or prismatic
minerals are present.
C) Granulose structure: Equidimensional minerals only.
Properties of Metamorphic rocks:
QUARTZITE:
PROPERTIES GENERAL OBSERVATION
PROPERTIES
COLOUR WHITE,YELLOW,
GREEN,RED
GRAIN SIZE VARIABLE
SHAPE SUB-ANGULAR
STRUCTURE GRANULOSE
ORIGIN THERMAL
METAMORPHISM
MINERAL QUATRZ
COMPOSITION
2-MARBLE
PROPERTIES GENERAL OBSERVATION
PROPERTIES
COLOUR Milky white,
sheds of green,
yellow, brown,
red etc.
GRAIN SIZE Fine or medium
or coarse
grained
SHAPE Sub-angular
STRUCTURE Granulose
ORIGIN Thermal
metamorphism
MINERAL Calcite
COMPOSTION
3-SLATE
PROPERTIES GENERAL OBSERVATION
PROPRTIES
COLOUR BLACK
GRAIN SIZE FINE GRAINED
SHAPE CAN NOT BE
IDENTIFIED
FROM NAKED
EYES.
STRUCTURE SLATY
ORIGIN DYNAMIC
METAMORPHISM
MINERAL MICA,QUATZ
COMPOSTION
4-BIOTITE SCHIST
PROPERTIES GENERAL OBSERVATION
PROPERTIES
COLOUR GREENISH
BROWN TO
BLACK
GRAIN SIZE FINE GRAINED
SHAPE ANGULAR
STRUCTURE SCHISTOSE
ORIGIN DYNAMIC
METAMORPHISM
MINERAL BIOTITE
COMPOSTION
5-AUGEN GNEISS
PROPERTIES GENERAL OBSERVATION
PROPERTIES
COLOUR REDDISH BROWN
GRAIN SIZE COARSE GRAINED
SHAPE SUB ROUNDED TO SUB
ANGULAR
STRUCTURE GNEISSOSE,GRANULOSE
ORIGIN DYNAMIC
METAMORPHISM
MINERAL FELDSPAR,QUARTZ
COMPOSTION
6- AMPHIBOLITE
PROPERTIES GENERAL OBSERVATION
PROPERTIES
COLOUR BLACK,GREEN
WITH WHITE
BANDS
GRAIN SIZE COARSE GRAINED
SHAPE SUB ROUNDED TO
SUB ANGULAR
STRUCTURE BANDED
ORIGIN DYNAMOTHERMAL
METAMORPHISM
MINERAL HORNBLENDE,
COMPOSTION AMPHIBOLE
CHLORITE SCHIST
PROPERTIES GENERAL OBSERVATION
PROPERTIES
COLOUR DARK GREEN
GRAIN SIZE FINE
SHAPE NOT IDENTIFIABLE
STRUCTURE SCHISTOSE
ORIGIN DYNAMOTHERMAL
METAMORPHISM
MINERAL CHLORITE
COMPOSTION
QUARTZ- MUSCOVITE SCHIST
PROPERTIES GENERAL OBSERVATION
PROPERTIES
COLOUR WHITISH, COPPER
YELLOW
GRAIN SIZE FINE , MEDIUM
GRAINED
SHAPE FLAKES OF MAICA
STRUCTURE SCHISTOSE
ORIGIN DYNAMOTHERMAL
METAMORPHISM
MINERAL QUARYZ ,
COMPOSTION MUSCOVITE
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