ENGINEERING

GEOLOGY
METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
METAMORPHISM
 The transformation of pre-existing rocks into texturally or
mineralogically distinct new rock as a result of high temperature
and pressure or both, but without melting of rock.
 So the rocks formed as a result of metamorphism are
known as METAMORPHIC ROCKS.
 Metamorphism is the solid-state recrystallization of pre-existing
rocks due to changes in physical and chemical conditions,
primarily heat, pressure, and the introduction of chemically active
fluids.
 Marble, Slate, Phyllite, Gneiss are well known metamorphic
rocks.
 Link:
https://www.cliffsnotes.com/study-guides/geology/metamorphic-rocks/meta
morphism-defined

 Link:
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-are-metamorphic-rocks-0?qt-news_science
_products=0#qt-news_science_products
 Sedimentary
0 km rock

Metamorphic
rock

Sediment Igneous
rock

10 km
~200ºC Sedimentary Metamor
rock -phism
occurs
Increasing depth
and temperature

Metamorphism between
about 10
and 50
km of
depth
50 km
Melting
~800ºC
These rocks don’t
melt
FACTORS CONTROLLING
CHARACTERISTICS OF
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
Composition Of the Parent Rock
 The mineral content of metamorphic rock is
controlled by the chemical composition of the
parent rocks.
 For example, marble is indicative of parent
rock composed of Caco3.
 Slate is result of metamorphism of Shale.
 Similarly, Granite Gneiss shows
metamorphism of Granite.
FACTORS CONTROLLING
CHARACTERISTICS OF
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
TEMPERATURE
 What is temperature range at the site of
metamorphism.
 Each mineral has its own melting and boiling
point.
 Pressure at the site is also very important.
 Generally acidic rocks have low temp. range
with compare to basic rock.
FACTORS CONTROLLING
CHARACTERISTICS OF
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
PRESSURE
 Earth pressure is called litho static pressure.
 Earth pressure is generally, confining, but may
be differential.
 Under effect of pressure, rock grains get
closer and eliminate pore space.
 Trapped water is released, and may play role
in metamorphism.
ORIGIN OF PRESSURE IN
METAMORPHISM
 FACTORS CONTROLLING
CHARACTERISTICS OF
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
TIME
 Laboratory calculation have resulted million of
years for note-able effect of metamorphism,
 e-g acidic rocks have growth rate 1.4 millimeter
per one million year.
 Others effects like temperature, pressure, location
of metamorphism also effect rate of
metamorphism.
TYPES OF METAMORPHISM
CONTACT METMORPHISM
 Contact metamorphism occurs adjacent to
pluton, when magma intrudes relatively cool.
 The zone of contact metamorphism is called
AUREOLE.
 Dikes/Sills generally have small aureoles with
minimal metamorphism whereas large
ultramafic intrusions can have significantly
thick and well-developed contact metamorphism.
 Meteorite can also cause metamorphism,called
Impact metamorphism.
REGIONAL METAMOPHISM
 Also known as dynamo thermal metamorphism
is caused at very large scale and at greater
depth about 5 km deep.
 It covers large areas of continental crust
typically associated with mountain ranges,
particularly subduction zones or the roots of
previously eroded mountains.
 The temp range is about 3000c to 8000c.
 Depending on pressure and temp conditions, a
parent rock may recrystallized into different
metamorphic rocks, e-g
BASALT (low P,T) GREEN SCHIST
BASALT (high P,T) AMPHIBOLE SCHIST
 Regional metamorphism can be described and
classified into metamorphic facies or
metamorphic zones of temperature/pressure
conditions throughout the orogenic terrane.
PROGRESSIVE
METAMORPHISM
 Change of metamorphic rocks with
progressive change of
PRESSURE,TEMPERATURE.
 At higher pressure and temperature, we have
greater metamorphism effects, and as we
get away from the site of metamorphism
progressively, the effect of metamorphism
decreases.
 E-g Shale Slate Phyllite Schist
Gneiss
 Progressive regional metamorphism: from
low grade (slate); to high grade (gneiss)
HYDROTHERMAL
METAMORPHISM
 Hydrothermal metamorphism is the result of
the interaction of a rock with a high-
temperature fluid of variable composition.
 The difference in composition between
existing rock and the invading fluid triggers a
set of metamorphic reactions.
 The hydrothermal fluid may be magmatic
(originate in an intruding magma), circulating
groundwater, or ocean water.
HYDROTHERMAL METAMORPHISM
DYNAMIC METAMORPHISM
 Dynamic metamorphism is associated with
zones of high to moderate strain such as fault
zones. Crushing and grinding of rocks into
angular fragments, occurs in dynamic
metamorphic zones.
 The textures of dynamic metamorphic zones
are dependent on the depth at which they
were formed, as the temperature and
confining pressure determine the
deformation mechanisms which
predominate.
 Metamorphism along a fault zone
 Within depths less than 5 km, dynamic
metamorphism is not often produced because
the confining pressure is too low to produce
frictional heat.

 Within the depth range of 5–10 km

pseudotachylite is formed. Frictional heating
in this case may melt the rock to form
pseudotachylite glass.
 Within the depth range of 10–20 km, deformation
is governed by ductile deformation conditions
and hence frictional heating is dispersed
throughout shear zones, resulting in a weaker
thermal imprint and distributed deformation.
 Here, deformation forms mylonite, with
dynamothermal metamorphism observed rarely
as the growth of porphyroblasts in mylonite
zones.
IMPACT METAMORPHISM
 Falling Meteorite, if they are of larger size,
can cause impact metamorphism.
 It creates locally metamorphic zone at the site
of strike.
 It also creates progressive metamorphism.
o Products are called impactites.
METAMORPHIC FACIES
 Metamorphic facies are recognizable terranes
or zones with an assemblage of key minerals that
were in equilibrium under specific range of
temperature and pressure during a metamorphic
event.
 Low T - Low P : Zeolite
 Mod - High T - Low P : Prehnite-Pumpellyite
 Low T - High P : Blueschist
 Mod to High T - Mod P : Greenschist -
Amphibolite - Granulite
 Mod - High T - High P : Eclogite
METAMORPHIC GRADES
 Metamorphic grades are classified by mineral
assemblage based on index minerals in rocks
of pelitic (shaly, aluminous) origin.
 There are five different zones showing
different grade of metamorphism
 Chlorite zone
 Biotite zone
 Garnet zone
 Staurolite-kyanite zone
 Sillimanite zone
METAMORPHIC GRADES
 Chlorite and biotite is characteristic mineral
in chlorite and biotite zones respectively.
 The characteristic mineral is called index
mineral.
IDENTIFICATION OF
METAMORPHIC STRUCTURES
Foliation/Foliated Rocks
 Under effect of metamorphism, minerals in rocks
are arranged in line/direction.
 If rock splits easily along nearly flat and parallel
planes, indicating that platy mineral were pushed
into alignment, we say rock is SLATY or it has
SLATY CLEAVAGE.
 Slate are fine-grained, usually blue-grey in color,
weak along parallel planes but tough from other
direction.
IDENTIFICATION OF
METAMORPHIC STRUCTURES
 If visible platy minerals or needle like mineral
have grown parallel to a plane due to
differential stress, the rock is SCHISTOSE.
 The rocks having schistose structures have a
tendency to split readily into flakes, leaves, or
thin slabs parallel to the schistosity.
DEVELOPMENT OF FOLIATION
DUE TO DIRECTED PRESSURE
 If rock becomes very ductile and the new
minerals get separated into distinct layers(light
and dark color layers),the rock has layered or
GNEISSIC texture.
NON-FOLIATED ROCKS
• Marble
Metamorphosed
Limestone

• Quartzite
Metamorphosed
Quartz Sandstone
METAMORPHISM AND
PLATE TECTONICS
 Plate tectonics facilitate the process of
metamorphism.
 Plate boundaries generate different types of
geological setting, which have different
ranges of temperature and pressure, across
the boundaries.
COMMON METAMORPHIC ROCKS
 Foliated rocks
 Slate

Very fine-grained
Excellent rock cleavage
Most often generated from low-grade metamorphism
of shale, mudstone, or siltstone
 Phyllite

Gradation in the degree of metamorphism between

slate and schist
Platy minerals not large enough to be identified with
the unaided eye
Glossy shine (due to large amount of mica) and
wavy surfaces
Composed mainly of fine crystals of muscovite
and/or chlorite
• Phyllite (left) and slate (right) lack visible mineral
grains & less wavy and shiny
COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
 Schist
Medium to coarse-
grained
Platy minerals
predominate
Commonly include the
micas
To indicate
composition, mineral
names are used (such
as mica schist)
 COMMON METAMORPHIC
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
Displays banded appearance
 COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
 Non foliated 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
COMMON METAMORPHIC
ROCKS
 Quartzite
Formed from a parent rock
of quartz-rich sandstone
Quartz grains are fused
together
QUARZITE
MARBLE
SLATE
MUSCOVITE
SCHIST
GARNET
SCHIST
GNEISS