Sedimentary Rock
3.8 Metamorphism
Any rocks in the earth’s crust may be metamorphosed. The forces that
cause metamorphism are temperature, stress (directed pressure) and
chemically active fluids, which come outer places. These forces happen in the
cause of orogenic belt. Moreover, metamorphic rocks can be found closely
around the intrusive igneous body. In a broad sense metamorphism is divided
up into thermal metamorphism, dynamic metamorphism and regional
metamorphism. There are mainly four processes of metamorphism. They are (i)
recrystallization, (ii) neomineralization, (iii) metasomatism and (iv)
metamorphic differentiation.
orogenic belt – mountain building
Source of Temperature
Source of Temperature
Types of Pressure
▪ Confining pressure increase with depth due to load from rocks above.
▪ “Squeezes” rock equally in all directions.
▪ Spaces between mineral grains close, producing a more compact, more dense rock.
▪ May cause minerals to recrystallize into new minerals with more compact structure.
Types of Pressure
▪ Differential stress or directed stress due to tectonic forces during mountain building.
▪ Stress is greater in one direction.
▪ Rocks become folded.
▪ Rocks are shortened in the direction of greatest stress.
▪ Rocks are thickened in the direction perpendicular to that of greatest stress.
Source of Fluids
(i) Groundwater
▪ Pore spaces of sedimentary rocks
▪ Fractures in rocks
(ii) Hydrated minerals such as gypsum and clays, etc.
(iii) Water (volatiles) from magma
Hydration
The process of hydration is related to the addition of water to the minerals.
2Fe2O3 + 3H2O 2Fe2O3.3H2O
(Hematite) (Limonite)
Smectite (Mg, Al)4Si8(O, OH, H2O)26.nH2O
Vermiculite (Mg, Ca, K, Fe+2)3(Si, Al, Fe+3)4O10(OH)2C4H2O
(i) Recrystallization – Minerals change size and shape.
Protolith
Parents rocks are called “protoliths”. Metamorphism can occur to any protolith.
Recrystallization is the metamorphic process by which crystals are packed
together creating a new crystal structure. With recrystallization the mineral’s
size and shape may change, but the basic composition remains unchanged.
This is seen when limestone recrystallizes into marble.
(ii) Neomineralization is the process of new minerals forming from pre-existing
minerals during metamorphism.
(iii) Metasomatism is a geological process that changes the composition of a rock
through chemical reactions. It involves the addition or removal of chemical
elements.
Chemically active fluids cause hydrothermal metamorphism – hot, chemically
active, mineral laden waters interact with a surrounding pre-existing rock
(country or host rock). Most hydrothermal metamorphism takes place at low
pressures and relatively low temperatures.
Chemically active fluids
Metasomatism (or) Chemical metamorphism
Hydrothermal metamorphism
Chemical Metamorphism
▪ Enhances migration of ions.
▪ Aids in recrystallization of existing minerals.
▪ Dissolves material form regions of high stress, along mineral grain
boundaries, and precipitating this material in areas of low stress.
▪ As a result, minerals tend to grow longer in the direction perpendicular to
compressional stress.
3.9 Classes of metamorphism
3.9.1 Thermal metamorphism or contact metamorphism
This process is caused by intrusive igneous rock and it can be found in
contact zone of intrusive rock and host rock. Therefore, it can be called contact
metamorphism. In thermal metamorphic rocks, the minerals are not shown
parallel lineation because of less pressure and stress. In this region, the farther
from the igneous body, the less metamorphism it will take place. These zones
are called contact aureole.
3.9.2 Cataclastic metamorphism (Dynamic)
The main forces that cause regional metamorphism are pressure and
stress. While the earth’s crust starts moving, the rocks are metamorphosed
along the fault zone.
3.9.3 Regional metamorphism
The main forces that cause regional metamorphism are temperature,
stress and the effect of chemically active metamorphic rocks are : (i) they can be
found widely; (ii) they are associated with the belt of orogeny ; (iii) they are
associated with granite batholiths; (iv) the grades of metamorphism gradually
decrease and increase; (v) they show foliation structure.
3.10 Metamorphism and plate tectonics
Metamorphism is mainly associated with convergent of plate (lithosphere
plate). Therefore, at the orogenic belts in which convergent area the
metamorphism took place. There is also another kind of metamorphism in the
processes of plate tectonics. On the ocean floor, at the divergent plate
boundary (mid ocean ridges), thermal metamorphism appeared because of
the hot magma.
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