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Earth Science SHS 12.2 What Is Metamorphism

Metamorphism is the process by which the characteristics of a rock are changed by increases in temperature, pressure, or reactions with fluids. It involves changes to the texture and mineral composition of the original rock, called the protolith, through processes like recrystallization, neocrystallization, phase change, pressure solution, and plastic deformation. Key processes include recrystallization, where mineral grains grow in size; neocrystallization, the formation of new minerals from heat; and phase change, a change in mineral structure with the same chemical formula.

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1K views15 pages

Earth Science SHS 12.2 What Is Metamorphism

Metamorphism is the process by which the characteristics of a rock are changed by increases in temperature, pressure, or reactions with fluids. It involves changes to the texture and mineral composition of the original rock, called the protolith, through processes like recrystallization, neocrystallization, phase change, pressure solution, and plastic deformation. Key processes include recrystallization, where mineral grains grow in size; neocrystallization, the formation of new minerals from heat; and phase change, a change in mineral structure with the same chemical formula.

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Camille Anib
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Lesson 12.

What is Metamorphism?
explain metamorphism
1 and how it happens; and
Objectives
describe some processes
At the end
involved in
of the
lesson, you metamorphisms such as
should be 2 recrystallization,
able to: neocrystallization, phase
change, pressure solution,
and plastic deformation.
Learn about It!

Metamorphism
● It came from a Greek word
meta which means to change
and morph means form.
● It is the process of changing
the characteristics of a rock
as a result of changes in
temperature, pressure, or
Slate is a product of metamorphism
reactions with hot fluids. from a protolith which is shale.
Learn about It!

Metamorphism
● The protolith is a pre-existing
rock that undergoes
metamorphism. It can be any
types of rock.
● Metamorphism of the protolith
changes the texture and
mineralogy (mineral components) Marble cave
of the original rock.
Learn about It!

Different Processes Involved in Metamorphism


● Recrystallization
○ Process where there is
growth in size of mineral
grains of pre-existing
materials.
○ The most common process
involved in metamorphism.
Example: limestone to Quartzite may be formed from
marble; clay into muscovite recrystallization of quartz in
mica. sandstones.
Learn about It!

Different Processes Involved in Metamorphism


● Neocrystallization
○ It is the formation of
new minerals from the
pre-existing minerals
due to heat.
○ Example: Phyllite is a
mica-rich mineral rock.
When clay undergoes
neocrystallization it Formation of quartz, mica, and
forms mica. garnet from neocrystallization of
shale.
Learn about It!

Different Processes Involved in Metamorphism


● Phase Change
○ It refers to the change in mineral structure but with
the same chemical formula. Example: Andalusite to
Kyanite.

○ Minerals with the same chemical formula but


different mineral structure are called polymorphs of
each other.
Learn about It!

Different Processes Involved in Metamorphism


● Pressure Solution
○ It takes place when
minerals are
dissolved in areas
with high pressure
and recrystallize in
other areas with low
Changes that happen in a pressurized
pressure. solution.
Learn about It!

Different Processes Involved in Metamorphism


● Plastic deformation
○ Occurs when mineral
grains soften and
deform at high
temperatures.

Shape of minerals in the protolith and


shape of the minerals in the
metamorphic rock after plastic
deformation.
Key Points

Metamorphism changes the texture and mineralogy


1 of the protolith.

It involves processes such as recrystallization,


2 neocrystallization, phase change, pressure solution,
and plastic deformation.
Key Points

Recrystallization is a process where there is growth in


3 size of mineral grains of pre-existing materials.

Neocrystallization is the formation of new minerals


4 from the pre-existing minerals due to heat.

Phase Change refers to the change in mineral


5 structure but with the same chemical formula.
Key Points

Pressure Solution takes place when minerals are


6 dissolved in areas with high pressure and recrystallize
in other areas with low pressure.

Plastic deformation occurs when mineral grains


7 soften and deform at high temperatures.
Check Your Understanding

Identify the following terms being described below.


1. The slow process where older minerals decompose and form
minerals.
2. This process takes place when dissolved mineral grains from high
pressure areas recrystallize in areas with lower pressure.
3. This happens when minerals stretch instead of breaking when they
are subjected to deformational forces in high temperatures.
4. This process occurs when mineral grains change in size from the
original mineral.
5. This happens when there is a change in the mineral structure while
retaining the same chemical composition.
Challenge Yourself

Why is texture a basis for metamorphism?


Bibliography
Dictionary of Geology and Earth Science. 2013. Oxford University Press.

Marshak, Steve. 2015. Earth: Portrait of a Planet 5th Edition. W.W. Norton & Company.Accessed March 3,
2017. http://www3.nd.edu/~cneal/PlanetEarth/Chapt-8-Marshak.pdf

Metamorphic Rocks. Accessed March 3, 2017. http://www.appstate.edu/~marshallst/GLY1101/


lectures/8-Metamorphic_Rocks.pdf

Nelson, Stephen A. 2015. Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks. Tulane University. Last Updated
September 17, 2015. Accessed March 2, 2017. http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/
eens1110/metamorphic.pd

Tarbuck, Edward J., and Lutgens, Frederick K. 2015. Earth Science. 14th edition. Pearson Education Inc.
USA

Tauxe, Lisa. The Rock Cycle. University of California, San Diego. Accessed May 7, 2018.
http://topex.ucsd.edu/es10/lectures/lecture10/lecture10.html

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