Metamorphism Notes

Definition and Background of Metamorphism
The word "Metamorphism" comes from the Greek: meta = after, morph = form, so metamorphism means the after form. In geology this refers to the
changes in mineral assemblage and texture that result from subjecting a rock to pressures and temperatures different from those under which the rock
originally formed. The original rock that has undergone metamorphism is called the protolith. Protolith can be any type of rock and sometimes the
changes in texture and mineralogy are so dramatic that is difficult to distinguish what the protolith was. During metamorphism the protolith
undergoes changes in texture of the rock and the mineral make up of the rock. These changes take place mostly in the solid state and are caused by
changes in physical or chemical conditions, which in turn can be caused by such things as burial, tectonic stress, heating by magma or interactions
with fluids.
Factors that Control Metamorphism

Metamorphism occurs because rocks undergo changes in temperature and pressure and may be subjected to differential stress and hydrothermal
fluids. Metamorphism occurs because some minerals are stable only under certain conditions of pressure and temperature. When pressure and
temperature change, chemical reactions occur to cause the minerals in the rock to change to an assemblage that is stable at the new pressure and
temperature conditions.
*Temperature. Temperature increases with depth in the Earth along the Geothermal Gradient. Thus higher temperature can occur by burial of rock.
Temperature can also increase due to igneous intrusion.
*Pressure. Pressure increases with depth of burial, thus, both pressure and temperature will vary with depth in the Earth. Pressure is defined as a force
acting equally from all directions. It is a type of stress, called hydrostatic stress, or uniform stress. If the stress is not equal from all directions, then
the stress is called a differential stress.
*Chemically active fluid/ Fluid Phase. Any existing open space between mineral grains in a rock can potentially contain a fluid. This fluid is mostly
H2O, but contains dissolved ions. The fluid phase is important because chemical reactions that involve changing a solid mineral into a new solid
mineral can be greatly speeded up by having dissolved ions transported by the fluid. If chemical alteration of the rock takes place as a result of these
fluids, the process is called metasomatism.
*Time. Because metamorphism involves changing the rock while it is solid, metamorphic change is a
slow process. During metamorphism, several processes are at work. Recrystallization causes changes in
minerals size and shape. Chemical reactions occur between the minerals to form new sets of minerals
that are more stable at the pressure and temperature of the environment, and new minerals form as a
result of polymorphic phase transformations (recall that polymorphs are compounds with the same
chemical formula, but different crystal structures.
Grade of Metamorphism
Metamorphic grade is a general term for describing the relative temperature and pressure conditions under which metamorphic rocks form. As the
temperature and/or pressure increases on a body of rock we say that the rock undergoes prograde metamorphism or that the grade of metamorphism
increases.
*Low-grade metamorphism takes place at temperatures between about 200 to 320 oC, and relatively low pressure. Low grade metamorphic rocks are
characterized by an abundance of hydrous minerals (minerals that contain water, H 2O, in their crystal structure).
*High-grade metamorphism takes place at temperatures greater than 320 oC and relatively high pressure. As grade of metamorphism increases,
hydrous minerals become less hydrous, by losing H2O and non-hydrous minerals become more common.
Textural Changes
The grain size of metamorphic rocks tends to increase with increasing metamorphic grade. With the increasing metamorphic grade, the sheet silicates
become unstable and mafic minerals, such as hornblende and pyroxene, start to grow. At the highest grades of metamorphism, all of the hydrous
minerals and sheet silicate become unstable and thus there are few minerals present that would show preferred orientation. This is because the fluids
from these hydrous minerals are expelled out due to the high temperature and pressure. Most metamorphic textures involve foliation, which is
generally caused by a preferred orientation of sheet silicates (silica minerals with sheet-like structures), such as clay minerals, mica and chlorite.
Slate, phyllite, schist, and gneiss are foliated rocks, are texturally distinguished from each other by the degree of foliation. Hornfels and granulite are
examples of non-foliated metamorphic rocks. In hornfels, the individual mineral grains are too small, whereas in granulites, the grains are large
enough to be identified in hand specimens.
Types of Metamorphism
*Contact Metamorphism (also called thermal 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 a zone
surrounding the intrusion, called a metamorphic aureole.
*Burial Metamorphism - When sedimentary rocks are buried to depths of several hundred meters, temperatures greater than 300 oC 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 the
Zeolites. Burial metamorphism overlaps, to some extent, with diagenesis, and grades into regional metamorphism as temperature and pressure
increase.
*Dynamic Metamorphism - This type of metamorphism is due to 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 the zone, and the rocks tend to crushed and pulverized due to the sliding. Dynamic
metamorphism is not very common and is restricted to a narrow zone along which the sliding occurred. The rock that is produced is called a
mylonite.
*Regional Metamorphism - This type of metamorphism occurs over large areas that were subjected to high degrees of deformation under differential
stress. Thus, it usually results in forming metamorphic rocks that are strongly foliated, such as slates, schists, and gneisses. The differential stress
usually results from tectonic forces that produce a compression of the rocks, such as when two continental masses collide with one another. Thus,
regionally metamorphosed rocks occur in the cores of mountain ranges or in eroded mountain ranges. Compressive stresses result in folding of the
rock, and results in thickening of the crust which tends to push rocks down to deeper levels where they are subjected to higher temperatures and
pressures.
Metamorphic Rock Types
*Foliated – These have a planar foliation caused by the preferred orientation (alignment) of minerals and formed under differential stress. They have
a significant amount of sheet silicate (platy minerals and are classified by composition, grain size, and foliation type. Examples are slate, phyllite,
schist, gneiss, granulite, and migmatites.
*Non-foliated rocks lack a planar fabric. Absence of foliation possible for several reasons: Rock not subjected to differential stress, dominance of
equant minerals (like quartz, feldspar, and garnet) and, absence of platy minerals (sheet silicates). Examples are amphibolites, hornfels, quartzites,
marble.

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Definition and Background of Metamorphism

Factors that Control Metamorphism

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