METAMORPHIC ROCKS
REVIEW:
WHAT IS METAMORPHISM?
• Metamorphism
• “to change form”
• is the change undergone by an existing rock (e.g., igneous, sedimentary, or
metamorphic), in the solid state, to another rock.
• The transition of one rock into another rock by temperatures and/or
pressures different from those where it originally formed.”
• Metamorphic rocks are produced from
• Igneous rocks
• Sedimentary rocks
• Other metamorphic rocks
METAMORPHISM
• Metamorphism progresses incrementally from low-grade to high-grade.
• Low-grade metamorphism means the conditions only caused slight changes.
• High-grade metamorphism means the rock experienced much higher temperatures
and pressures, producing major mineral and texture changes.
• During metamorphism, the rock must remain essentially solid (once the rock
melts, the process is no longer metamorphism — it becomes igneous)
METAMORPHISM
I. Prograde metamorphism
- results from increasing temperature and/or pressure conditions over time.
- When a rock goes deep underground, it becomes “cooked” by heat and pressure
II. Retrograde Metamorphism
- results from decreasing temperature and/or pressure so that lower temperature/pressure
mineral assemblages develop that overprint earlier peak temperature/pressure mineral assemblages.
- Rock is pushed back up by tectonic forces, it cools down, and sometimes water enters
the rock, and this causes the minerals to change into new, lower-temperature minerals.
Local examples:
Zambales Ophiolite – high-grade metamorphic blocks show retrograde chlorite, serpentine, and
actinolite as they cooled.
Palawan Metamorphic Complex – garnet amphibolites showing chlorite overgrowths due to
retrogression.
AGENTS OF
METAMORPHISM: HEAT
• Metamorphism happens because of four main agents:
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AGENTS OF
METAMORPHISM: HEAT
I. Heat
• The most important agent.
• Provides the energy to drive chemical reactions → recrystallization of
minerals.
• Recrystallization results in new, stable minerals.
• Two sources of heat:
a. Large bodies of molten rock or intrusive bodies
b. Geothermal Gradient
An increase in temperature
with depth due to the
geothermal gradient.
Geothermal gradient -
temperature increases with
depth (20o – 30oC per km in
the crust).
intrusive bodies Geothermal Gradient
AGENTS OF
METAMORPHISM: PRESSURE
2. Pressure (Stress)
• Increases with depth
• Two types of pressure:
a. Confining pressure applies forces equally in all directions.
b. Differential stress, which is unequal in different directions.
AGENTS OF
METAMORPHISM: PRESSURE
Confining pressure – equal stress in all
directions; from overlying rock.
Differential stress – unequal
pressure in different directions
AGENTS OF
METAMORPHISM: PRESSURE
AGENTS OF METAMORPHISM:
CHEMICALLY ACTIVE FLUIDS
• Chemically active fluids
• Mainly water with other volatile components
• Enhances migration of ions
• Aids in recrystallization of existing minerals
• Sources of fluids?
• Water trapped in pore spaces of the
original rock.
• Water released during dehydration of
minerals, such as amphibole or mica.
• Water from magmatic bodies
(hydrothermal fluids).
AGENTS OF METAMORPHISM:
PARENT ROCK
• “Protolith”= parent rock of metamorphic rocks.
• A protolith is the original, unmetamorphosed rock from which a given
metamorphic rock is formed.
• The importance of parent rock:
• Most metamorphic rocks have the same overall chemical composition as
the parent rock from which they formed;
• Mineral makeup determines, to a large extent, the degree to which each
metamorphic agent will cause change.
PROTOLITH METAMORPHIC ROCK
LIMESTONE MARBLE
SANDSTONE QUARTZITE
PERIDOTITE SERPENTINITE
SHALE SLATE
SLATE SCHIST
AGENTS OF METAMORPHISM:
PARENT ROCK
AGENTS OF
METAMORPHISM:
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM
1. Contact or Thermal Metamorphism
2. Hydrothermal Metamorphism
3. Regional Metamorphism
4. Other Types:
• Burial Metamorphism
• Metamorphism along Fault Zones
• Impact Metamorphism
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM: CONTACT OR THERMAL
METAMORPHISM
• Contact or thermal metamorphism
• Occurs due to a rise in temperature when magma invades a host rock.
• A zone of alteration called an aureole forms in the rock surrounding the magma.
• Most easily recognized when it occurs at the surface, or in a near-surface environment.
Contact metamorphism
occurs when magma invades
pre-existing rock. A zone of
alteration called an aureole
(or halo) forms around the
emplaced magma .
Takes place at shallow
depths (0-6km) and low
pressure.
Metamorphic rocks produced: non-foliated; fine-grained.
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM: CONTACT OR THERMAL
METAMORPHISM
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM:
HYDROTHERMAL METAMORPHISM
• Hydrothermal metamorphism
• Also called metasomatism
• refers to the chemical and
mineralogical changes that occur in
rocks as a result of the interaction
with hot, chemically-active fluids
(mainly water) during metamorphism.
• This process typically takes place at
relatively low temperatures (200-
400°C) and pressures, but can occur
over a wide range of conditions.
• Hydrothermal fluids, which can
originate from a variety of sources
such as seawater, magmatic water,
or metamorphic fluids, play a
significant role in altering the rock’s
mineral composition by dissolving,
transporting, and depositing ions.
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM:
HYDROTHERMAL METAMORPHISM
• Chemical alteration at high temperatures
and moderate pressures by hot, ion-rich
(hydrothermal) fluids that circulate through
fissures and cracks.
• This is common in basaltic rocks where
hydrothermal metamorphism results in
alteration to such Mg-Fe rich hydrous
minerals as talc, chlorite, serpentine,
actinolite, tremolite, zeolites, and clay
minerals.
• Rich ore deposits are often formed as a
result of hydrothermal metamorphism.
• Most widespread along the axis of the mid-
ocean ridge system
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM: REGIONAL
METAMORPHISM
• Regional Metamorphism
• is a type of metamorphism that occurs over a wide area, typically hundreds to
thousands of square kilometers.
• It is caused by the combined effects of heat, pressure, and stress associated with
large-scale tectonic processes, such as mountain building and continental
collisions (convergent plate boundary).
• The force of the collision causes rocks to be folded, broken, and stacked on each other, so
not only is there the squeezing force from the collision, but from the weight of stacked
rocks.
Rocks that form from regional
metamorphism are likely to be foliated
Differential stress – unequal
pressure in different directions
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM: REGIONAL
METAMORPHISM
• Takes place at considerable depths over an extensive
area (5-20 km, sometimes more than 30 km) under high
pressure and is associated with the process of mountain
buliding.
• When continents collide (A) or oceanic crust subducts
(B).
• Produces the greatest quantity of metamorphic rock.
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM: REGIONAL
METAMORPHISM
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM: OTHERS
• Other types of metamorphism:
• Burial metamorphism
• Associated with very thick sedimentary
strata.
• Required depth varies from one
location to another depending on the
prevailing geothermal gradient.
• Metamorphism along fault zones
• Occurs at depth and high
temperatures.
• Pre-existing minerals deform by ductile
flow.
• Mylonite
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM: OTHERS
• Shock or Impact Metamorphism
• Impact metamorphism
• Occurs when high speed projectiles called meteorites strike Earth’s surface.
• Products are called “impactites”.
When an extraterrestrial body, such as
a meteorite or comet impacts with the
Earth or if there is a very large volcanic
explosion, ultrahigh pressures can be
generated in the impacted rock. These
ultrahigh pressures can produce
minerals that are only stable at very
high pressure, such as the SiO2
polymorphs coesite and stishovite.
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES
A. FOLIATED TEXTURES B. NON-FOLIATED TEXTURES
These textures show layering or
alignment of minerals due to directed
pressure:
• 1. Slaty Cleavage
• 2. Phyllitic Texture
• 3. Schistose Texture (Schistosity)
• 4. Gneissic Banding
• 5. Mylonitic Texture
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES
• Texture refers to the size, shape, and arrangement of grains within a rock.
• Foliation – any planar arrangement of mineral grains or structural features
within a rock.
• Examples of foliation
• Parallel alignment of platy and/or elongated minerals;
• Parallel alignment of flattened mineral grains and pebbles
• Compositional banding
• Slaty cleavage where rocks can be easily split into thin, tabular sheets.
• Foliation can form in various ways including
• Rotation of platy and/or elongated minerals
• Recrystallization of minerals in the direction of preferred orientation
• Changing the shape of equidimensional grains into elongated shapes that are
aligned
FOLIATION
Round grains can become
flattened
Sheet silicate minerals can
have a preferred orientation
DEVELOPMENT OF FOLIATION DUE TO
DIRECTED PRESSURE
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: FOLIATED
(1. SLATY CLEAVAGE)
• Slaty Cleavage is the flat orientation of the small platy crystals of mica
and chlorite, forming perpendicular to the direction of stress.
• Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic rock that exhibits a foliation – slaty
cleavage.
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: FOLIATED
(1. SLATY CLEAVAGE)
Cleavage: Schistosity surface along
which the rock may break (cleave). It
includes:
a. Slaty cleavage in very fine-grained
mica and/or chlorite in slate and
phyllite
b. Crenulation cleavage: alignments
with cm- to mm-scale periodic
folding
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: FOLIATED
(2. PHYLLITIC TEXTURE)
• Phyllitic texture is a metamorphic
texture characterized by a silky or
satiny sheen and a slightly wavy
foliation, formed during low- to
medium-grade metamorphism of
shale or mudstone.
• It develops as tiny mica minerals like
muscovite and chlorite grow and
align, giving the rock its distinctive
shine and crinkled appearance.
Phyllite is therefore intermediate
between slate, which is dull and has
flat cleavage, and schist, which is more
coarse-grained and sparkly due to
larger mica crystals.
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: FOLIATED
(3. SCHISTOSE TEXTURE)
Schistosity: defined by alignment of play
(mica, chlorite) or inequivalent
(amphiboles, quartz) minerals
- Minerals defining schistosity are said to
possess preferred orientation and usually
are medium-grained.
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: FOLIATED
(3. SCHISTOSE TEXTURE)
• Schistosity
• Platy minerals are discernible with the unaided eye and exhibit a planar or
layered structure
• Rocks having this texture are referred to as schist.
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: FOLIATED
(4. GNEISSIC BANDING)
• Gneissic
• During higher grades of metamorphism, ion migration results in the
segregation of minerals;
• Gneissic rocks exhibit a distinctive banded appearance.
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: FOLIATED
(4. GNEISSIC BANDING)
Gneissosity: defined by compositional
layering of equant crystals (e.g., quartz,
feldspars) alternating with platy or
elongate mineral layers (e.g., micas). It is
usually coarse-grained in size.
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: FOLIATED
(5. MYLONITIC TEXTURE)
Mylonite layering: defined by layers of highly strained rock with elongated
grains due to grain size reduction and dynamic recrystallization during
shearing
METAMORPHIC TEXTURES: NONFOLIATED
• Other metamorphic textures
• Those metamorphic rocks that lack foliation are referred to as nonfoliated
• Develop in environments where deformation is minimal
• Typically composed of minerals that exhibit equidimensional crystals
Textures donating lake of preferred orientation or
equigranular grains:
- Hornfelsic textures: random orientation of fine-grained rocks,
due to lack of stresses, granofelsic texture for the medium to
coarse grained rock
Textures donating lake of preferred orientation or
equigranular grains (Cont.)
- Granoblastic texture: A mosic of fine to coarse grained
anhedral grains, such as marble and granulites
Textures donating Large grains within the rock:
-Porphyroblastic texture: A relatively
large crystal (e.g. garnet, staurolite) in
smaller fine grained matrix. It could be
-Idioblast (Euhedral),
-subidioblast (subhedral) or,
- xenoblast (anedral).
Textures donating Large grains within the rock:
-Porphyroclastic texture: A large
strained grain in fine grained
matrix
-Blastoporphyritic texture: A relict
of porphyritic volcanic texture in
metamorphic rocks
- Augen texture: Porphyroblast of
feldspars with eye-shape cross
section in fine grained gneissic
matrix
Textures donating inclusion within or rim on a
porphyroblasts:
- Poikiloblastic or sieve texture:
porphyroblast containing
numerous inclusions of one or
more fine grains.
Textures donating inclusion within or rim on a
porphyroblast:
Corona or reaction rim: A zone
consisting of grains of a new
minerals that have formed at rim
around mineral.
COMMON METAMORPHIC ROCKS
COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
• Foliated rocks
• Slate
• Very fine-grained
• Excellent rock cleavage
• Most often generated from low-grade metamorphism of shale, mudstone, or siltstone
COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
• Foliated rocks
• Phyllite
• Gradation in the degree of metamorphism between slate and schist
• Platy minerals not large enough to be identified with the unaided eye
• Glossy sheen and wavy surfaces
• Exhibits rock cleavage
• Composed mainly of fine crystals of muscovite and/or chlorite
PHYLLITE (LEFT) AND SLATE (RIGHT)
LACK VISIBLE MINERAL GRAINS
COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
• Foliated rocks
• Schist
• Medium- to coarse-grained
• Platy minerals predominate
• Commonly include the micas
• The term schist describes the texture
• To indicate composition, mineral names are used (such as mica schist)
A MICA GARNET SCHIST
COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
• Foliated rocks
• Gneiss
• Medium- to coarse-grained
• Banded appearance
• High-grade metamorphism
• Often composed of white or light-colored feldspar-rich layers with bands of dark
ferromagnesian minerals
GNEISS TYPICALLY DISPLAYS A BANDED
APPEARANCE
COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
• Nonfoliated rocks
• Marble
• Coarse, crystalline
• Parent rock was limestone or dolostone
• Composed essentially of calcite or dolomite crystals
• Used as a decorative and monument stone
• Exhibits a variety of colors
MARBLE – A NONFOLIATED
METAMORPHIC ROCK
COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
• Nonfoliated rocks
• Quartzite
• Formed from a parent rock of quartz-rich sandstone
• Quartz grains are fused together
QUARTZITE
MAJOR METAMORPHIC ROCK TYPES
Index
Temp C Temp F Coal Limestone Sandstone Basalt Shale
Minerals
Lignite
Bituminous
500 Anthracite
300 600 Graphite Marble Slate Chlorite
700 Greenstone
800 Quartzite Phyllite Biotite
500 900 Schist Garnet
1000 Amphibolite Staurolite
Gneiss
600 1100 Kyanite
1200 Sillimanite
Melting
700
Begins
METAMORPHIC ZONES
• Systematic variations in the mineralogy and often the textures of metamorphic rocks
are related to the variations in the degree of metamorphism.
• Index minerals and metamorphic grade
• Changes in mineralogy occur from regions of low-grade metamorphism to regions of high-
grade metamorphism.
• Index minerals and metamorphic grade
• Certain minerals, called index minerals, are good indicators of the metamorphic conditions in
which they form.
METAMORPHIC GRADES
Greenschist
Granofels
Hornfels
• Generalization:
• For metamorphic rocks from one metamorphic complex that have undergone
metamorphism for approximately the same length of time, the grain size increases
with temperature, so that fine-grained rocks have probably been metamorphosed at
low temperatures, coarse-grained ones at higher temperatures. This is the “rough”
basis for the degree of metamorphism aptly referred to as “metamorphic grade”.
• Metamorphic rocks often display different grain sizes in minerals formed during
metamorphism, and may also inherit variable grain sizes from their igneous or
metamorphic precursors. Rocks with large metamorphic crystals set in a finer-
grained matrix are said to be porphyroblastic, and the large crystals are called
porphyroblasts. In such rocks, it is the matrix grain size that is indicative of
metamorphic grade.