Pinnacle NFS Study Guide
For December MTs
MT RANGE:
Pg. 96-101 – Unit 3.4 Metamorphic Rocks
Pg. 115-120A – Unit 4.1 Mechanical and Chemical
Weathering
MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE FOLLOWING:
Unit 3.4 Metamorphic Rocks (Pg. 96-101):
Metamorphic rocks form when heat and/or pressure turn old rocks
into new rocks. Metamorphic rocks can be made out of any type of
rock (sedimentary, igneous, or even other metamorphic rocks).
The process of turning these rocks into metamorphic rocks is called
metamorphism. The rocks that metamorphic rocks were before
metamorphism occurs are called parent rocks.
Metamorphic rocks are formed by a process called recrystallization.
Recrystallization occurs when intense heat/pressure breaks the
bonds holding the crystal structures of minerals together. The
atoms in those crystal structures can then form new minerals.
Crystals can also grow bigger during this time as atoms bond to
existing crystal structures, making them larger.
Metamorphic rocks will form foliation when subjected to intense
pressure. Foliation is when layers of minerals are flattened and
stacked on top of each other, causing the rock to appear striped or
cracked. Most metamorphic rocks that form will be foliated.
Foliated rocks like shale, schist, etc. are useful for making tiles
because foliated rocks are easy to split apart along the layers of
foliation. Doing so will form the thin sheets of rock needed to make
tiles without the use of heavy machinery.
While most metamorphic rocks are foliated, nonfoliated
metamorphic rocks (rocks without any foliation) are also possible.
Nonfoliated rocks form in two ways – the first is when lava or
magma comes into contact with rock. The heat can cause the
bonds to break in those rocks causing recrystallization and
metamorphism but not causing foliation (which needs pressure in
order to form). The second is when rocks are only made of one
mineral. An example of this is marble. Marble is formed from
limestone, which is only made of one mineral – calcite. Since
limestone is only made of one mineral, it will not become foliated
when it undergoes metamorphism.
Unit 4.1 – Mechanical and Chemical Weathering
Mechanical weathering occurs when physical forces break down
rocks. Examples of mechanical weathering include ice wedging,
pressure release, plant root growth and abrasion.
Ice wedging occurs when water gets into cracks in rocks. The water
then freezes and expands, forcing the cracks to become bigger and
bigger. Pressure release happens when rocks that were deep
underground and under immense pressure become lifted to the
surface. Since there is no longer any pressure holding them
together, the rocks will spread out causing defoliation. Plant root
growth happens in a similar way as ice wedging does. Plants grow
in cracks in rocks, and as the plants’ roots grow they force the
cracks to grow bigger and bigger. Abrasion happens when water or
other objects rub up against rocks, causing rocks to lose their outer
layers and become smooth and rounded.
Chemical weathering occurs when chemical reactions break apart
the bonds in atoms and change the chemical makeup of the rock.
Unlike mechanical weathering, which doesn’t change what the rock
is made of, chemical weathering can create rocks with entirely
different properties. The two types of chemical weathering are
dissolving and rusting.
Dissolving is caused when carbon dioxide from the air mixes with
rainwater, turning it slightly acidic. Over millions of years, this
acidic water can break down rocks and cause weathering.
Rusting is caused when oxygen from the atmosphere reacts with
iron in rocks. When this happens, iron will turn into rust, becoming
much weaker and slowly eroding away. When rocks rust, they turn
reddish-orange, similar to how metal turns into a reddish-orange
flaky substance when it melts.
A rock’s weathering may be faster or slower depending on three
things. The first thing is the amount of surface area exposed to
weathering. If more of the rock is being eaten away at the same
time, it will weather faster. The second thing is the rock’s mineral
composition. Rocks with harder minerals that are resistant to
weathering will weather more slowly. The third thing is the climate
of the area that the rock is in. Rocks in wetter and hotter climates
will weather much more quickly than rocks that are in dry places
like deserts or cold places like areas with polar climates.