NICOLAS L.

GALVEZ MEMORIAL INTEGRATED

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Senior High School Department

METAMORPHISM

Grade 11 Earth Science (STEM)

What is Metamorphism?
Magmatism – formation of magma
Plutonism – formation of igneous rocks
Metamorphism – formation of metamorphic rock
Recall: Rock Cycle
What is Metamorphism?
• Metamorphism is the change of minerals or texture in pre-
existing rocks (protoliths), without the protolith melting into
liquid magma (a solid-state change).

• The change occurs primarily due to heat, pressure, and

the introduction of chemically active fluids. The chemical
components and crystal structures of the minerals making
up the rock may change even though the rock remains a
solid.
Diagenesis vs. Metamorphism vs. Magmatism
• Note that Diagenesis is also a change in form that occurs in
sedimentary rocks. In geology, however, we restrict diagenetic
processes to those which occur at temperatures below 200oC and
pressures below about 300 MPa (MPa stands for Mega Pascals).

• Metamorphism, therefore occurs at temperatures and pressures

higher than 200oC and 300 MPa. Rocks can be subjected to these
higher temperatures and pressures as they are buried deeper in the
Earth. Such burial usually takes place as a result of tectonic processes
such as continental collisions or subduction.

• The upper limit of metamorphism occurs at the pressure and

temperature where melting of the rock in question begins. Once
melting begins, the process changes to an igneous process rather than
a metamorphic process (Magmatism) .
Grade of Metamorphism
• As the temperature and/or pressure increases on a body
of rock we say the rock undergoes prograde
metamorphism or that the grade of metamorphism
increases. Metamorphic grade is a general term for
describing the relative temperature and pressure
conditions under which metamorphic rocks form.
Grade of Metamorphism
Grade of Metamorphism
• Low-grade metamorphism takes place at temperatures between
about 200 to 320oC, and relatively low pressure. Low grade
metamorphic rocks are generally characterized by an abundance
of hydrous minerals. With increasing grade of metamorphism,
the hydrous minerals begin to react with other minerals and/or
break down to less hydrous minerals.
• High-grade metamorphism takes place at temperatures greater
than 320oC and relatively high pressure. As grade of
metamorphism increases, hydrous minerals become less
hydrous, by losing H2O, and non-hydrous minerals become
more common.
Q: What is meant by hydrous mineral?
Grade of Metamorphism
Grade of Metamorphism
Low grade meta. rock non –foliated
High grade meta. rock foliated

formed by contact metamorphism

formed by regional metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism
1. Contact Metamorphism
2. Regional Metamorphism
3. Cataclastic Metamorphism
4. Hydrothermal Metamorphism
5. Burial Metamorphism
6. Shock Metamorphism
1. Contact Metamorphism
• Contact metamorphism occurs adjacent to igneous intrusions
and results from high temperatures associated with the igneous
intrusion.

• Since only a small area surrounding the intrusion is heated by

the magma, metamorphism is restricted to the zone
surrounding the intrusion, called a metamorphic or contact
aureole. Outside of the contact aureole, the rocks are not
affected by the intrusive event. The grade of metamorphism
increases in all directions toward the intrusion. Because the
temperature contrast between the surrounding rock and the
intruded magma is larger at shallow levels in the crust where
pressure is low, contact metamorphism is often referred to as
high temperature, low pressure metamorphism. The rock
produced is often a fine-grained rock that shows no foliation,
called a hornfels.
2. Regional Metamorphism
• Regional metamorphism occurs over large areas and generally
does not show any relationship to igneous bodies. Most
regional metamorphism is accompanied by deformation under
differential stress conditions. Thus, regional metamorphism
usually results in forming metamorphic rocks that are strongly
foliated, such as slates, schists, and gniesses. The differential
stress usually results from tectonic forces that produce
compressional stresses in the rocks, such as when two
continental masses collide. Thus, regionally metamorphosed
rocks occur in the cores of fold/thrust mountain belts or in
eroded mountain ranges. Compressive stresses result in folding
of rock and thickening of the crust, which tends to push rocks
to deeper levels where they are subjected to higher temperatures
and pressures.
3. Cataclastic Metamorphism
• Also known as Dynamic Metamorphism
• Cataclastic metamorphism occurs as a result of mechanical deformation, like
when two bodies of rock slide past one another along a fault zone. Heat is
generated by the friction of sliding along such a shear zone, and the rocks
tend to be mechanically deformed, being crushed and pulverized, due to the
shearing. Cataclastic metamorphism is not very common and is restricted to
a narrow zone along which the shearing occurred.
- “rubbing” rocks
4. Hydrothermal Metamorphism
• The changes that occur in the presence of water at high temperature and
pressure which affect the resulting mineralogy and rate of reaction.
• Rich ore deposits are often formed as a result of hydrothermal
metamorphism.
Hydrothermal Metamorphism
5. Burial Metamorphism
• When sedimentary rocks are buried to depths of several hundred
meters, temperatures greater than 300oC may develop in the
absence of differential stress. New minerals grow, but the rock
does not appear to be metamorphosed. The main minerals
produced are often the Zeolites. Burial metamorphism overlaps,
to some extent, with diagenesis, and grades into regional
metamorphism as temperature and pressure increase.
6. Shock Metamorphism
• Also known as Impact Metamorphism
• 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.
References
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metamorphism.
• Types of Metamorphism.
http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/eens212/typesmetamorp
h.htm. Retrieved: September 3, 2017
• Metamorphism.
http://magnet.fsu.edu/~odom/1000/metamorphism/meta.ht
ml. Retrieved: September 3, 2017
• Metamorphic rocks.
http://www.columbia.edu/~vjd1/meta_rx.htm. Retrieved:
September 3, 2017