Week 3 Practical 3: Metamorphic Rocks (Regional metamorphism)

Objectives / Learning Outcomes

Identification of characteristic features of metamorphic rocks
Classification of the type of metamorphic rocks
Description of metamorphic fabrics and mineralogy
Inference of potential parent rock

Equipment & Resources

Pen or pencil • Handlens •

Background

Metamorphism means change in form and for rocks, this change in form occurs in
response to variations in temperature and/or pressure. These changes occur in solid state
with recrystallization of pre-existing minerals and growth of new minerals that are only
stable under specific temperature and/or pressure conditions. The chemical composition of
the parent rock (protolith) is the greatest factor in determining the mineral assemblage of
a metamorphic rock.

The intensity of metamorphism is defined as the metamorphic grade. Under conditions of

low-grade metamorphism temperatures are between 100-500°C at low pressures. High-
grade metamorphism has temperature ranges > 500°C and high pressure.

How do we tell the rock is of metamorphic origin?

Metamorphic rocks are produced by the transformation of pre-existing rocks (igneous,

sedimentary and metamorphic rocks) by recrystallization or deformation or both.
Metamorphic rocks can be distinguished from igneous and sedimentary rocks by the
following features:

 Triple Junctions : Recrystallisation in the solid state means that mineral grains
grow together in such a way that the surface energy is at a minimum. This
gives rise to triple junctions of ~120° between minerals and these are
characteristic of metamorphic rocks (Figure 1). Commonly difficult to see in
handspecimen but the resultant texture is massive. Recrystallization also results in
the hardening of the rock and an overall increase in density.
 Figure 1 Photomicrograph showing typical triple junction texture characteristic of
metamorphic rocks.

 Fabric: Differential stress during deformation results in the rotation, flattening and
growth of metamorphic minerals along planes perpendicular to the applied stress
direction (Figure 2).

a) b)

Figure 2 a) Rock prior to deformation and metamorphism exhibit random grain orientations;
b) rocks after deformation and metamorphism exhibit alignment of mineral grains
perpendicular to applied stress with formation of a fabric.

 Porphyroblasts: growth of minerals which are only stable under elevated

temperatures and/or pressures. These minerals are typically larger than the
groundmass (Figure 3)
 Figure 3 Porphyroblasts of garnet

 Key Metamorphic Minerals: The identification of minerals in metamorphic rocks is

important because certain minerals are diagnostic in determining the metamorphic
grade (temperature and pressure at which metamorphism occurred) and parent
rock type (or protolith). Below is a list of some of the key metamorphic minerals and
their physical appearance in metamorphic rocks.

List of diagnostic mineral characteristics

kyanite bluish-silvery colour, bladed habit
sillimanite fibrous habit, white to colourless
staurolite brown colour, elongate crystals, diamond shaped in cross-
section
garnet pink to red, glassy on fresh surfaces, often perfect crystal
shapes
andalusite pink or white, square in cross-section
cordierite bluish colour in coarse-grained rocks, gives hornfels a pinkish
tinge
hornblende greenish to black, elongate crystals, two cleavages at ~60° or
120°
biotite dark brown to black mica
muscovite clear to white mica
Types of Metamorphism

Two main types’ metamorphism: Regional and Contact metamorphism.

Regional Metamorphism

Regional metamorphic rocks occur over large areas many tens of kilometers across,
typically in orogenic (mountain) belts. Mostly these have formed at elevated temperatures
and/ o r p r e s s u r e s a n d have recrystallized during deformation at depth in thickened
crust. This means that regional metamorphic rocks are characterized by the preferred
orientation of the constituent mineral grains. These are formed at high pressures. Note:
regional metamorphic rocks can be exposed to extreme deformational strain which can lead
to recrystallization and partial melting of the rock and this is termed Dynamic
Metamorphism.

Deformation results in alignment and/or growth of new minerals perpendicular to the

direction of applied stress. It also results in folding which commonly exhibited in regionally
metamorphosed rocks.

Foliation
The alignment of minerals imparts a fabric texture to the rock which develops as a planar
structure termed foliation (Figure 4). Minerals that typically impart foliation are micas (e.g
muscovite and biotite). Regionally metamorphosed rocks will split along the foliation planes.

Figure 4 Planar orientations of micas to define a cleavage (or foliation) surface. From
Clark and Cook (1986)

Lineation

Mineral crystals may grow during regional metamorphism parallel to the direction of
minimum stress forming rod-like fabric called a lineation. Commonly minerals with acicular
habits develop as lineations (e.g amphiboles and aluminosilicates such as sillimanite). Note
that rocks may have a lineation without a foliation as in Figure 5 or a lineation within the
foliation.
 Figure 5 A fabric of rod-‐shaped minerals to define a lineation. From Clark and Cook
(1986).

The development of foliation in regionally metamorphosed rocks varies with the increasing
metamorphic grade. The initial foliation that forms in low-grade metamorphosed rocks is
termed slaty cleavage. This foliation develops at an angle to the original bedding but with
continual application of stress this rotates to being bedding parallel due to folding (Figure
6).

Figure 6 Relationship between relic original bedding and slaty cleavage .

Increasing metamorphic grade results in an overall increase in grainsize of the rock due to
new mineral growth (Figure 7). At an intermediate metamorphic grade the foliation is well
defined by individual mineral grains that are easily discernable. This foliation is described as
schistose and a rock with this foliation is termed schist. At higher grades of metamorphism,
the rock begins to recrystallize with physical separation of the felsic and mafic minerals into
coarser bands termed gneissic banding and a rock with this type of foliation is termed
gneiss.

Figure 7 Increasing grainsize and change in foliation style with increasing metamorphic
grade (from Tarbuck et al. 2014)

Grain size of metamorphic rocks is defined as:

Fine-grained minerals are <1 mm in length

Medium-grained minerals are 1-5 mm in length

Coarse-grained minerals are >5 mm in length

Progressive Metamorphism and the Influence of Parent Rock Composition

The composition of the parent rock (or protolith) is a key controlling factor on the mineralogy
of the resultant metamorphic rock. The following table contains list of minerals that are
indicative of particular parent rock types.

Parent Rock Diagnostic indicator minerals

Mudstone andalusite, sillimanite, kyanite, staurolite, muscovite, biotite
Sandstone quartz, feldspars, some micas
Limestone calcite, garnet, pyroxene
Basalt amphiboles, pyroxenes, plagioclase, garnet
Ultramafic talc, serpentine

Regional and contact metamorphism occurs over an extended period of time. During which
minerals, present in the original parent rock, become unstable due to changes in
temperature and pressure. Consequently, with ever increasing temperature and/or pressure
conditions new minerals appear, which results in the formation of metamorphic zones. These
zones are defined as grades of metamorphism (Figure 9). Low grade metamorphism (low T
& P) can preserve original textures of the parent rock. Intermediate grade metamorphism (
 Low Grade
Intermediate
Grade High Grade

Figure 9 Progressive metamorphism of shale and basalt, with increasing temperature and
pressure, showing the resultant metamorphic equivalents at low, intermediate and high
grades (taken from Tarbuck et al. 2014)

Metamorphosed sedimentary rocks that contain clay-rich e.g mudstones are termed pelites.
During progressive regional metamorphism these pelitic rocks transform from a shale with
increasing temperature and/or pressure to slate, phyllite, schist and finally gneiss (Figure
10).

Figure 10 Progressive metamorphism of pelitic rocks (from Tarbuck et al. 20014).

Quartz-rich sedimentary rocks (e.g sandstone), show minimal mineralogical change during
progressive metamorphism. These rocks transform into quartzite, which typically is non-
foliated and massive. However, if the sandstone is not pure, mica will form during
metamorphism and will produce a foliation.

Limestone will develop into marble during progressive metamorphism. The variations
commonly seen in marble relate to the purity of the original limestone.

Exercise

Examine provided samples and for each describe:

1. Features indicative of metamorphic rocks

2. Describe fabric of the sample where relevant
3. Determine which type of the foliation characterizes the sample, if present
4. Determine grain size
5. Describe mineralogy of the sample (ask where unusual minerals are visible)
6. Define metamorphic grade (facies, if possible)
7. Determine possible parent rock for the sample