METAMORPHISM, METAMOPHIC

GRADES AND CLASSIFICATION OF

METAMORPHIC ROCK
 Metamorphism
Metamorphism is the change of minerals
or geologic texture in pre-existing rocks , without
melting into liquid magma.
It is a solid-state change and occurs primarily due
to heat and pressure
The chemical components and crystal structures
of the minerals making up the rock may change
even though the rock remains a solid
Metamorphism typically occurs between 200C
and 850C
 Metamorphic Rocks
Pre existing rock altered by the severe process
metamorphism are known as metamorphic
rocks.
 Metamorpism envirnments
Three types of metamorphism exist:
Contact metamorphism
Dynamic metamorphism and
Regional Metamorphism
 Contact metamorphism

Contact metamorphism occurs typically around intrusive igneous rocks as

a result of the temperature increase caused by the intrusion of magma
The area surrounding the intrusion where the contact metamorphism
effects are present is called the metamorphic aureole.
Contact metamorphic rocks are some times known as hornfels.
Rocks formed by contact metamorphism may not present signs of strong
deformation and are often fine-grained.
Contact metamorphism is greater adjacent to the intrusion and dissipates
with distance from the contact.
The size of the aureole depends on the heat of the intrusion, its size, and
the temperature difference with the wall rocks.
Dikes generally have small aureoles with minimal metamorphism whereas
large intrusions can have significantly thick and well-developed contact
metamorphism.
Dynamic or Dislocation
Metamorphism
Dynamic metamorphism is taken place at shear zones
where directional stresses are predominant compared
to temperature or pressure.
Crushing and grinding of rocks into angular fragments
(termed brecciation) occurs in dynamic metamorphic
zones, giving cataclastic texture.
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 510 km confining pressure
is enough to occur plastic deformation and produce
fine grained rocks.
Regional metamorphism
Regional metamorphism occurs at deep down
at larger scale than above two environments
due to extreme compression forces produced
by collision of tectonic plates.
Resulting metamorphic rocks show evidence
of fracture, folding faulting etc.
Metamorphic grades
Metamorphic grades describes how much metamorphism has taken
place
Sometimes rocks are metamorphosed just a little bit.
Other times, rocks are changed extremely.
The degree that rocks are changed by metamorphism depends on
how much heat and pressure they are put under, and for how long.
The amount of metamorphism is called the metamorphic grade.
Millions of years after a rock has been metamorphosed, geologists
can figure out how much heat and pressure it was exposed to.
They look at its minerals because different minerals will form during
different amounts of metamorphism. The minerals listed below are
clues to the metamorphic grade.
 Cont..
Low-grade metamorphic rocks form at temperatures of
about 200 degrees Celsius and at 2-3 kbar pressure.
Thats a little hotter than the oven temperature. mica
minerals grow as the rock changes.
Intermediate grade metamorphic rocks contain mica as
well as minerals such as garnet.
High grade metamorphic rocks form in places that are
so hot the rocks almost melt, about 800 degrees
Celsius and 7 8 k bar confined pressure. One mineral
that forms in this intense heat is sillimanite, which is
often found in metamorphic rocks
 Classification of Metamorphic Rocks
Classification of metamorphic rocks wiil be
done based on the
1. Texture and structure
2. Mineralogical Composition
3. Chemical Composition
4. Location
Method 3 and 4 are not practiced now.
 Texture and structure
According to the texture, rocks can be sub
divided as ;
Foliated and Non foliated
Non Foliated forms are fureteh described as
Massive (Grains could not be visible)
Granular( Grains could be visible)
 Classification of Metamorphic Rocks
Name of Rock Parent Rock Texture Grain Size
Shale, mudstone,
Slate siltstone very fine

Phyllite Slate fine

medium to
Schist Phyllite coarse
Schist, granite, medium to
Gneiss volcanic rocks Foliated coarse
medium to
Marble limestone coarse
medium to
Quartzite quartz sandstone coarse

Anthracite bituminous coal Nonfoliated fine

 Naming of Meta. Rock
Naming based on mineral content ;
Biotite, Quartz, feldspar, gneiss
Garnet Biotite Quartz, feldspar gneiss
Hornblende, Biotite Quartz, feldspar gneiss
Writen as biotite gneiss, garnet biotite gneiss
and Hornblende biotite gneiss as Quartz,
feldspar always present. Omit if the mineral
content is less than 5%
End