Metamorphic Rocks

Adamson University
College of Engineering
Mining, Geology and Ceramic Engineering
Jerali C. Rodrigo
 TOPICS
Definitions
Factors Controlling the Characteristics
of Metamorphic rocks
Grade of Metamorphism
Types of Metamorphism
Metamorphic Structures
Characteristics of Depth Zone Metamorphism
Metamorphic Minerals
Metamorphic Textures
Metamorphic Fabrics
Metamorphic Facies
Classification of Metamorphic rocks
Metamorphism and Plate Tectonics
 Definitions
Metamorphic Rocks
- are rocks changed from one form to another by
intense heat, intense pressure, or the action of
hot fluids. These rocks underwent the process of
metamorphism.
Metamorphism
- is the process of mineralogical and structural
changes of rocks in their solid state in response
to physical and chemical conditions which differ
from the conditions prevailing during the
formation of the rocks.
Factors controlling the characteristics of
metamorphic rocks
1. Composition of the parent rock
2. Temperature
3. Pressure and stress
4. Fluids
5. Time
 Pressure and Stress
confining pressure (or geostatic
pressure) – pressure applied on all
direction.
Differential stress
Compressive stress – due to compression
Shearing stress – due to sliding of one
body past another.
Foliation - is a planar texture that develops
as a result of differential stress. Minerals
that are subjected or formed under
differential stress tend to follow the
direction of shearing or align themselves
perpendicular to the compressive stress.
 Metamorphic Grade
• One of the primary goals of metamorphic petrology is to interpret P-
T conditions under which a rock (or set of rocks) formed
• Metamorphic grade
– relative temperature and pressure conditions under which metamorphic
rocks form
• Low-grade metamorphism
– T ~200 to 320ºC, relatively
low pressure
– abundant hydrous
minerals
• High-grade
metamorphism
– T >320ºC and relatively high
pressure
– Dehydration; less hydrous
minerals common
• Prograde metamorphism
– T and/or P, grade of
metamorphism increases
• Retrograde
metamorphism
3. Contact metamorphism – the
transformation of rocks caused by heat escaping
from an igneous intrusion. The host rock is
baked, recrystallized, or changed through
reactions driven by the infusion of heat and by
the fluids mobilized within the magma and the
intruding rock itself.
4. Burial metamorphism – results in
response to the pressure exerted by the weight
of the overlying rock; occurs deep into thick
sedimentary basins; includes hardening of the
matrix, cementation, precipitation in pore spaces
and the dissolving and recrystallization of
mineral grains at points of contact.
5. Shock Metamorphism (Impact
Metamorphism)
6. Pyrometamorphism
7. Autometamorphism
8. Pneumatolytic
metamorphism
9. Injection metamorphism
10. Geothermal metamorphism
11. Plutonic metamorphism
12. Ultrametamorphism
 Metamorphic Structures
1. Fold – it is a curved or bent layer of rock.
Folded rocks
2. Crenulations – parallel sets of very tiny
folds up to 1 cm long.

3. Lineations – lines on rocks at the edges

of foliations, shear planes, slaty
cleavages, or folds.
4. Stretched or sheared grains – deformed
pebbles, fossils, or mineral crystals that have
been stretched out or shortened by shearing.

5. Kink bands – in rock are small, abrupt folds

that occur in pairs and results in narrow zones
having a different orientation of foliation that that
which characterizes the rock as a whole.
6. Fault – is a fracture, break, or line of
failure along which movement parallel to
the fracture has occurred.
7. Boudin and Boudinage - A boudin is a
rod-like structure, shaped like a sausage
or football in cross-section. Boudinage is
the term applied to the structure
composed of a series of boudins.
8. Mullion – rod-like or columnar masses of
metamorphic rock representing folded layers.
9. Rock cleavage – cleavage in rocks is the
tendency of a rock to split along parallel to sub
parallel planes. The term cleavage is also used
to name the planes along which splitting occurs.
10. Banding - As a consequence of metamorphic
crystallization or as a result of the presence of
original layering in a rock, metamorphic rocks
may exhibit bands.
11. Hydrothermal veins – fractures that
have been “healed” (filled) by minerals
that precipitated from hydrothermal
fluids.
Characteristic Aspects of Depth
Zone of Metamorphism
1. Epizone
– Less than 300°C
– Strong Shearing stress, low hydrostatic pressures
– Minerals; Sericite, Chlorite, Chloritoid, Talc,
Stilpnomelane, Antigorite, Brucite, Actinolite,
Epidote, Zoisite, Albite, Glaucophane, Magnesium
Garnet, Calcite, Dolomite and Magnetite.
– Slate, Chlorite and Mica Schist
– Kinetic Metamorphism
2. Mesozone
– 300-500°C
– Moderate shearing stress and hydrostatic
pressure; intermediate depth
– Minerals; Biotite, Muscovite, Staurolite,
Kyanite, Anthophyllite, Epidote, Zoisite,
Sodic Plagioclase, Common Hornblende,
Alkalic Hornblende, Cummingtonite,
Grunerite, Actinolite, Almandine, Calcite,
Brucite, Associations of epizone minerals
with some katazone minerals
– Regional Metamorphism
3. Katazone
– 500-700°C
– Strong hydrostatic pressure, deep-seated crustal
conditions
– Minerals; Biotite, Potassium Feldspars, Sillimanite,
Andalusite, Enstatite Hypersthene, Olivine,
Diopside-Hedenbergite, Omphacite, Common
Hornblende, Alkalic Hornblende, Aegirine Augite,
Jadeite, Cordierite, Garnets ( Almandine,
Grossularite, Andradite), Calcic Plagioclase,
Idocrase, Scapolite, Humite, Monticellite, Calcite
and Brucite.
– Gneisses, Granulites, Eclogites, Amphibolites, High
Grade Schists
– Deep-seated Metamorphism associated with
Igneous Intrusions.
 Characteristic Aspects of Depth Zones of
Metamorphism
Zone Tempera- Dominant Typical minerals Rock type Types of
ture pressure formed formed metamor-
condition phism

Epiz Less Strong

shearing
Sericite,
chlorite, talc,
Slate, Kinetic
one than stress, low epidote, chlorite,
hydrostatic albite,calcite, and mica
300o pressure dolomite, etc
schists
C
Meso 300 – Moderate
shearing
Biotite,
muscovite,
Schists,biot Regio-
ite,&
zone 500oC stress &
hydrostatic
kyanite, epidote,
plagioclase, hornblende nal
pressure: hornblende, schist,garn
intermediate calcite, et schist
depth Brucite, etc.

Kata 500 – Strong

hydrostatic
Biotite,silimanite
Andalusite,
Gneisses,
granulites,
Deep-seated
metamorphis
zone 700oC pressure,
deep-seated
olivine,enstatite- eclogites,
m
associated
hypersthene, amphibolites
crustal with igneous
common
condition High grade intrusions
hornblende, etc
schist
 Metamorphic Minerals
Mineral Formula
Quartz SiO2
Andalusite, Sillimanite, Al2SiO5
Kyanite
Cordierite Mg2Al4Si5O18
Pyrope Mg3Al2(SiO4)2
Chlorite Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Enstatite MgSiO3
Anthophyllite Mg7(Si4O11)2(OH)2
Talc Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Serpentine Mg3Si2O5(OH)4
Forsterite Mg2SiO4
Staurolite Fe2Al9Si4O23(OH)
Chloritoid Fe2Al2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)4
Almandite Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
Cummingtonite Fe7(Si4O11)2(OH)2
Wollastonite CaSiO3
Grossularite Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
Zoisite Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH)
Anorthite CaAl2Si2O3
Diopside CaMgSi2O6
Tremolite Ca2Mg5(Si4O11)2(OH)2
Jadeite NaAlSi2O6
Glaucophane Na2Mg3Al2(Si4O11)2(OH)2
Albite NaAlSi3O8
Potash Feldspar KALSi3O8
Muscovite KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Phlogopite KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Minerals common in metamorphic rocks than in
igneous rocks
1. Diopside
2. Chondrodite
3. Graphite
4. Garnet
5. Tourmaline
6. Axinite
Minor Accessory minerals in igneous rocks
reappear in metamorphic rocks
7. Apatite
8. Zircon
9. Sphene
10. Corundum
11. Magnetite
12. Ilmenite
Most common feldspars
1. Orthoclase
2. Microcline
3. Perthite

• All members of the plagioclase series may be

found in metamorphic rocks.

• The Higher the grade of metamorphism, the

higher the anorthite content in the plagioclase.
 Metamorphic Textures
Granoblastic (granular): containing
equidimensional generally xenoblastic
crystals of approximately equal size.
Porphyroblastic: containing porphyroblasts.
Maculose or knotted rocks contain scattered
porphyroblasts, generally all of the same
species and of similar size, in an otherwise fine-
grained hornfels matrix.
Poikiloblastic: texture denotes a
porphyroblast containing inclusions of
other minerals; corresponds to poikilitic
texture of igneous rocks. Also called sieve
texture.
Porphyroclast: Large grain surviving in an
otherwise granulated or mylonitized rock.
Feldspar is the most common
porphyroclasts.
Crystalloblastic: textures result from growth of crystals in a
solid
medium. Crystal faces are poorly developed
Xenoblastic:
Idioblastic: Proper crystal form

Crystalloblastic Series or Idioblastic Order

Usually
Idioblastic Magnetite, Sphene, Rutile,Specularite,Ilmenite
Tourmaline, Garnet, Kyanite, Staurolite,Andalusite
Epidote, Zoisite
Pyroxene, Amphiboles, Wollastonite
Micas,
Chlorite
Calcite
Scapolite, Cordierite
Rarely Quartz, plagioclase
Idioblastic Orthoclase, Microcline
Foliation: a texture characterized by
parallelism of platy and acicular minerals
in the rock. Cleavage, schistosity, and
gneissic foliation or banding are types of
foliation.
1. Slaty cleavage – a planar foliation of fine-
grained platy minerals (mainly clay
minerals, chlorite, or muscovite)
developed parallel and subparallel to
shear planes (microscopic faults) in tightly
folded clayey and mica-rich rocks.
2. Schistosity – a parallel to subparallel
foliation medium- to coarse-grained platy
minerals (mainly micas and chlorite) or an
alignment of long, prismatic crystals
(tourmaline, amphibole).
3. Gneissic texture – a parallel to subparallel
foliation of medium- to coarse-grained platy
minerals, in alternating layers of different
composition (dominated by different minerals).
4. Phyllite texture – a wavy foliation of fine-
grained platy minerals (mainly muscovite or
chlorite) that exhibit a somewhat metallic (silvery
) luster and wrinkled form.
 Fabrics
Cataclastic Fabric
Those of the broken and fragmented rocks
developed by mechanical deformation of
Cataclastic or dynamic metamorphism upon
hard, brittle rocks.
Flinty Rock and Pseudotachylite
Glassy texture caused by frictional heat generated
during thrust faults may cause fusion of minerals
particles.
Hornfelsic Fabric
Developed from pelitic sediments undergoing
thermal metamorphism and the resulting rock
produced is a hornfel.
Decussate Fabric
Randomly arranged crystals of biotite.
Granulose Fabric
Developed largely in rocks with granoblastic
minerals.
Porphyroblastic Fabric
A fabric in which relatively metamorphic
minerals are porphyroblasts of one or
more species occur in a matrix of smaller
grains.
 Metamorphic facies
Facies – Assemblage of mineral, rock (or fossil)
features reflecting environment in which rock
was formed; such features are used to
differentiate one rock facies from other
neighboring units. Rocks having the same
mineral assemblage that formed within a well-
defined set of pressure-temperature conditions
are regarded as belonging to the same
metamorphic facies.
Such mineral that characterizes a given intensity
of metamorphism are called index minerals.
 Metamorphic Facies

• Mineral assemblage present depends on protolith composition and P-T conditions

– Ex: marble, metabasalt and schist all in amphibolite facies 42
1. Zeolite Facies – represents the lowest grade of
metamorphism, the mineral assemblage
includes zeolite, chlorite, muscovite and quartz.
2. Greenschist Facies – low grade metamorphic
facies of many regionally metamorphosed
terranes. The mineral assemblage may include
chlorite, epidote, muscovite, albite and quartz.
3. Amphibolite Facies – occurs in medium- to
high-grade metamorphic terranes. The mineral
constituents include hornblende, plagioclase,
and almandine. This facies occurs where
Staurolite and sillimanite-grade metamorphic
conditions have prevailed.
4. Glaucophane-lawsonite schist (or blueschist) Facies
- represented by relatively low temperatures but
elevated pressures of metamorphism in young
orogenic zones. Characteristic constituents are
lawsonite, jadeite, albite, Glaucophane, muscovite,
and garnet.

5. Granulite Facies – reflects the maximum temperature

conditions of regional metamorphism. Characteristic
mineral constituents are plagioclase, orthopyroxene,
garnet, and diopside.

6. Eclogite Facies – represents the most deep-seated

conditions of metamorphism. Characteristic mineral
constituents are Pyrope-rich garnet and Omphacite.
 Classification of Metamorphic
Rocks
• Mineralogical - The most distinguishing minerals are used as a prefix to
a textural term. Thus, a schist containing biotite, garnet, quartz, and
feldspar, would be called biotite-garnet schist. A gneiss containing
hornblende, pyroxene, quartz, and feldspar would be called hornblende-
pyroxene gneiss. A schist containing porphyroblasts of K-feldspar would
be called K-spar porphyroblastic schist.

• Chemical - If the general chemical composition can be determined from

the mineral assemblage, then a chemical name can be employed. For
example schist with a lot of quartz and feldspar and some garnet and
muscovite would be called garnet-muscovite quartzo-feldspathic schist.
Schist consisting mostly of talc would be called talc-magnesian schist.

• Protolithic - If a rock has undergone only slight metamorphism such that

its original texture can still be observed then the rock is given a name
based on its original name, with the prefix meta- applied. For example:
metabasalt, metagraywacke, meta-andesite, metagranite.
Protolith
Protolith refers to the original rock, prior to
metamorphism.
• Pelitic - These rocks are derivatives of aluminous
sedimentary rocks like shales and mudrocks.
Because of their high concentrations of alumina they are
recognized by an abundance of aluminous minerals, like
clay minerals, micas, kyanite, sillimanite, andalusite, and
garnet.
• Quartzo-Feldspathic- Rocks that originally contained
mostly quartz and feldspar like granitic rocks and arkosic
sandstones will also contain an abundance of quartz and
feldspar as metamorphic rocks, since these minerals are
stable over a wide range of temperature and
pressure. Those that exhibit mostly quartz and
feldspar
with only minor amounts of aluminous minerals are
termed quartzo-feldspathic.
• Calcareous - Calcareous rocks are calcium rich.
They are usually derivatives of carbonate rocks,
although they contain other minerals that result from
reaction of the carbonates with associated siliceous
detrital minerals that were present in the rock. At
low grades of metamorphism calcareous rocks are
recognized by their abundance of carbonate minerals
like calcite and dolomite. With increasing grade
of metamorphism these are replaced by minerals like
brucite, phlogopite (Mg-rich biotite), chlorite, and
tremolite. At even higher grades anhydrous minerals
like diopside, forsterite, wollastonite, grossularite, and
calcic plagioclase.
• Basic - Just like in igneous rocks, the general term basic
refers to low silica content. Basic metamorphic rocks
are generally derivatives of basic igneous rocks like
basalts and gabbros. They have an abundance
of Fe-Mg minerals like biotite, chlorite, and hornblende,
as well as calcic minerals like plagioclase and epidote.
• Magnesian - Rocks that are rich in Mg with relatively
less Fe are termed magnesian. Such rocks would
contain Mg-rich minerals like serpentine, brucite, talc,
dolomite, and tremolite. In general, such rocks
usually have an ultrabasic protolith, like peridotite,
dunite, or pyroxenite.

Ferriginous - Rocks that are rich in Fe with little Mg are

termed ferriginous. Such rocks could be derivatives of
Fe-rich cherts or ironstones. They are characterized by
an abundance of Fe-rich minerals like greenalite (Fe-rich
serpentine), minnesotaite (Fe-rich talc), ferroactinolite,
ferrocummingtonite, hematite, and magnetite at low
grades, and ferrosilite, fayalite, ferrohedenbergite, and
almandine garnet at higher grades.
• Manganiferrous - Rocks that are
characterized by the presence of Mn-rich
minerals are termed
manganiferrous. They are
characterized by such minerals as
Stilpnomelane and Spessartite.
Slate – fine-grained rocks that have
remarkable property known as slaty
cleavage which permits them to be split
into thin, broad sheets. Their color is
commonly gray to black but may be green,
yellow brown, and red.
Phyllite – Fine grained and very schistose
rock, the platy mineral of which consists
mainly of phengite. Phengite sericite gives
an overall silky sheen to the schistosity
planes. The grain size is coarser than in
slates but finer than in mica schists.
Schists –Distinguished by the presence of
well-developed foliation or schistosity,
along which rock may be easily broken.
Low grade Schists – presence of low
temperature minerals; Albite, Muscovite,
Chlorite, Actinolite, and Talc.
High Grade Schists – foliated
porphyroblastic and are characterized by
the presence of high-temperature minerals
as garnet, biotite, sillimanite, staurolite,
cordierite, andalusite and kyanite.
Gneiss – medium- to coarse-grained rock having
a gneissic fabric. Light and dark minerals are
found separate, parallel layers or lenses. Dark
layers commonly include biotite and hornblende;
light-colored layers consist of quartz and
feldspars. Layers may be folded or contorted.
Amphibolite - These are medium to coarse
grained, dark colored rocks whose
principal minerals are hornblende and
plagioclase. They result from
metamorphism of basic igneous rocks.
Blueschist – a blue amphibole-bearing
metamorphosed mafic igneous rock or mafic
greywacke. This term is so commonly applied to
such rocks that it is even applied to non-
schistose rocks.
Greenschist - a low-grade metamorphic rock that
typically contains chlorite, actinolite, epidote, and
albite. Note that the first three minerals are
green, which imparts the color to the rock. Such
a rock is called greenschist if foliated, and
greenstone if not. The protolith is either a mafic
igneous rock or greywacke.
Argillites – a low-grade, nonfoliated
metamorphic rock made from a mudstone
or other clay-rich sedimentary rock.
Argillite breaks with an irregular or
conchoidal fracture. Its lack of foliation
may be attributable partly to a lower grade
of deformation and partly to abundance in
the parent mudstone of quartz silt or other
minerals that are neither platy nor
elongate.
Hornfels – a high-temperature contact metamorphic
rock of uniform grain size that has undergone little or no
deformation. Its platy or elongate crystals are oriented
randomly, and foliated texture is absent. Hornfels have a
granular texture overall, even though they commonly
contain pyroxene, which makes elongate crystals, and
some micas.
Greenstone – metamorphosed mafic volcanic rocks.
Many of these low-grade rocks form when mafic lava
and ash deposits react with percolating seawater or
other solutions. Large areas of the seafloor are covered
with basalts slightly or extensively altered in this way at
mid-ocean ridges. On the continents, buried volcanic and
plutonic mafic igneous rocks react with groundwater at
temperatures of 150 to 300°C and form similar
greenstones. An abundance of chlorite gives these rocks
their greenish cast.
Marbles - These are rocks composed
mostly of calcite, and less commonly of
dolomite. They result from metamorphism
of limestones and dolostones. Some
foliation may be present if the marble
contains micas.
Eclogites - These are medium to coarse
grained consisting mostly of garnet and
green clinopyroxene called omphacite,
that result from high grade metamorphism
of basic igneous rocks. Eclogites usually
do not show foliation.
Quartzites - Quartz arenites and chert both are
composed mostly of SiO2. Since quartz is
stable over a wide range of pressures and
temperatures, metamorphism of quartz arenites
and cherts will result only in the recrystallization
of quartz forming a hard rock with interlocking
crystals of quartz. Such a rock is called a
quartzite.
Serpentinites - Serpentinites are rocks that
consist mostly of serpentine. These form
by hydrothermal metamorphism of
ultrabasic igneous rocks.
Soapstones - Soapstones are rocks that
contain an abundance of talc, which gives
the rock a greasy feel, similar to that of
soap. Talc is an Mg-rich mineral, and
thus soapstones from ultrabasic igneous
protoliths, like peridotites, dunites, and
pyroxenites, usually by hydrothermal
alteration.
Skarns - Skarns are rocks that originate from
contact metamorphism of limestones or
dolostones, and show evidence of having
exchanged constituents with the intruding
magma. Thus, skarns are generally
composed of minerals like calcite and
dolomite, from the original carbonate rock, but
contain abundant calcium and magnesium
silicate minerals like andradite, grossularite,
epidote, vesuvianite, diopside, and wollastonite
that form by reaction of the original carbonate
minerals with silica
from the magma. The chemical exchange is that
takes place is called metasomatism.
Mylonites - Mylonites are cataclastic
metamorphic rocks that are produced
along shear zones deep in the crust.
They are usually fine-grained, sometimes
glassy, that are streaky or layered, with
the layers and streaks having been drawn
out by ductile shear.
Granulite - At the highest grades of
metamorphism most of the hydrous minerals
and sheet silicates become unstable and thus
there are few minerals present that would show
a preferred orientation. The resulting rock will
have a granulitic texture that is similar to a
phaneritic texture in igneous rocks.
Metamorphism and plate
tectonics
Seafloor metamorphism
Fractures that develop within the MOR act
as passageways for seawater circulating
within the crust. The seawater heated by
magma rises and reacts with the basaltic
crust, converting it to hydrous rocks such
as serpentinite. Metals extracted from the
crust are redeposited and concentrated
high within the crust and on the surface.