GEOLOGY 101

Class 10
Spring 2014
Objectives Chapter 6
Explain the distinctive characteristics of
metamorphic rock
List what the major sedimentary rocks become
under metamorphic processes
Describe the three metamorphic processes
and where metamorphic rocks form
Describe the potential significance of the
discovery in 1977 of Black Smokers
Rock Cycle Simplified
Start with molten magma heavy in silicates or ions of calcium
and carbonate in water
Allow magma to cool and crystalize into igneous minerals and
rocks
Or promote biochemical or straight chemical combination of
calcium and carbonate to form calcite
Expose igneous rocks to water and let them deteriorate to small
pieces and clay minerals
Gather small pieces, clays, and calcites and cement together into
sedimentary rocks
OPTIONAL STEP To any rock created above, raise to high
temperatures and pressure, allowing re-crystallization into
igneous minerals or marble (from calcite)
WARNING, if temperatures get too high , you melt the rock and
start over as magma


Metamorphism
Metamorphic Rocks
Definition:
Re-crystallization of
minerals
while still solid
into minerals that are
stable at different
temperatures and
different pressures
Characteristics of Metamorphic Rocks
High temperatures can change chemical
structure of minerals
Pressure + heat flattened crystals and create
characteristic foliation
Slaty cleavage Increasing
Phyllitic cleavage degree of
Schistose metamorphism
Gneissic structure
Metamorphic rocks are not all foliated
Foliation How Rock Metamorphic
Rocks Show Stress
Characteristics of Metamorphic
processes
Work on all kinds of rocks
Varying degrees of Metamorphism
Heat and pressure to re-form crystals in
existing rock
Step 1 - Metamorphism of Shale
Shale: Fine grained Clay
(and quartz) minerals
stable under
atmospheric T&P
Compacted by
overburden
Laminated sheets
Water bound in
crystalline structure of clay
Increase pressure and
temperature create Slate
Clays converted to mica and
chlorite - fine grained plates
Water expelled from
crystalline structure of clay

New minerals stable
Slaty Cleavage due to
realignment of platy
minerals
Result of Low Grade
Metamorphism - Slate
POOL TABLES and ROOF SHINGLES


Heat Slate to Higher
Temperature and Pressure More
Grow more and larger
grains of Mica and quartz
All clays convert to mica
Slaty cleavage takes on a
sheen surface of sheets
of mica aligned with stresses
Medium-Grade Metamorphism
Phyllite



Of mica
Still more heat and pressure
on Phyllite
Create larger grains of
Mica and Quartz
Garnets, amphibole and
biotite may be created

Schistosity created
by alignment of platy and
needle-like minerals
Medium to High-Grade
Metamorphism Schist

Still hotter temperature on
Schist OR Granite

Create course grained
Feldspar, Quartz,
Amphibole, Biotite
Less mica or amphibole
because of dehydration
Minerals tend to migrate
into separate parallel
bands of dark and light
High-Grade
Metamorphism Gneiss



Fig 7.12
Cook the Gneiss Even Hotter
Silica rich minerals melt
first (quartz and
feldspar)
Forming silicic magma
Injected into fractures
resulting in silicic veins
if intrusive igneous rock
Very High-Grade
Metamorphism and
partial melting
Migmatite
Fig 7.12
Metamorphic Rocks of other
Parent Rocks
Limestone Marble






Bioclastic calcite Crystalline calcite
Nonfoliated
Metamorphic Rocks of other
Parent Rocks
Quartz Sandstone Quartzite






Granular quartz Crystalline quartz
Nonfoliated
Metamorphic Rocks of other
Parent Rocks
Basalt Amphibole Schist
Granite Gneiss







Uniform texture Foliation (schistosity and
gneissic banding)
Types of metamorphic rocks
Slate Shale Low grade
Phyllite Sheen, more mica, higher grade
Schist Most abundant mineral first name
lot around Enchanted Rock
Gneiss Coarse grained high grade regional -
granite or gabbro
Marble Limestone or dolostone, contact or
regional
Quartzite non-foliated quartz sandstone

How deep and how hot?
Regional Metamorphic Environments
Regional metamorphism occurs where rocks are squeezed between two converging
lithospheric plates during mountain building.
DEEPEST, HOTTEST and LARGEST AREA
Contact Metamorphic Environment
There are a number of environments in which
metamorphism occurs. Most are in the vicinity of plate
margins, and many are associated with igneous
activity.
Contact or thermal
metamorphism
occurs when rocks
immediately
surrounding a molten
igneous body are
baked and therefore
altered from their
original state.
Hydrothermal Metamorphic
Hydrothermal metamorphism occurs when hot fluids circulate
through fissures and cracks that develop in rock. This hot fluid
chemically alters rocks and is closely related to igneous activity.
Mid-ocean
ridge
Mid-ocean ridge
Black Smoker off
Galapagos Islands
Black Smokers first
discovered 1977

Concentrated high value
minerals from magma
(mostly sulfides)
in hot water

Quickly cool and minerals
come out of solution

Home to exotic plant and
Animal life
Anatomy of a
Black Smoker
Objectives Chapter 6
Explain the distinctive characteristics of
metamorphic rock
List what the major sedimentary rocks become
under metamorphic processes
Describe the three metamorphic processes
and where metamorphic rocks form
Describe the potential significance of the
discovery in 1977 of Black Smokers