Metamorphic Rocks 2

Pelites
(derived from mudstones, shales, siltstones)
Metamorphic rocks can be classified according to:

a) protolith

b) bulk composition

c) mineral assemblage

d) texture

LAB 4: Metabasites (derived from mafic/intermediate igneous rocks)

LAB 5: Pelites (derived from mudstones, shales, siltstones)

LAB 6: Other (derived from felsic and ultramafic igneous rocks;

limestones, sandstones)
Metamorphic rocks can be
classified according to:
a) protolith
determined from relict features inherited from protolith and
preserved during metamorphism and deformation
and/or bulk composition of rock
b) bulk composition
determined by/from minerals present in rock (types,
compositions, modal %)
and/or chemical analysis
c) mineral assemblage
reflects bulk composition and metamorphic
grade
(P-T conditions) determined by petrographic
observation
d) texture
may be inherited from protolith and/or
developed during deformation and
(re)crystallisation determined by petrographic
observation
 LAB 5: PELITES
a) protolith
- fine-grained sedimentary rocks (mudstones, shales, siltstones)
+/- small proportion of interlayered coarser-grained sedimentary
material (sandstone)
b) bulk composition (= pelite)
- relatively rich in Si, Al, K (protolith mainly clay + quartz)
- relatively poor in Ca, Mg
c) mineral assemblage
- mica (mus +/- bt) + quartz ubiquitous
- plagioclase, chlorite, garnet, Al2SiO5, staurolite, cordierite, K-
feldspar, graphite, ilmenite ...etc...
(depending on grade and specific bulk composition)
d) texture
- planar fabrics generally well developed (+/- lineation)
- sedimentary layering may be preserved
- porphyroblasts very common
 LAB 5: PELITES
a) protolith
- fine-grained sedimentary rocks (mudstones, shales, siltstones)
+/- small proportion of interlayered coarser-grained sedimentary
material (sandstone)
b) bulk composition (= pelite)
- relatively rich in Si, Al, K (protolith mainly clay + quartz)
- relatively poor in Ca, Mg
c) mineral assemblage
- mica (mus and/or bt) + quartz ubiquitous
- plagioclase, chlorite, garnet, Al2SiO5, staurolite, cordierite, K-
feldspar, graphite, ilmenite ...etc...
(depending on grade and specific bulk composition)
d) texture
- planar fabrics generally well developed (+/- lineation)
- sedimentary layering may be preserved
- porphyroblasts very common
 LAB 5: PELITES
c) mineral assemblage (reflects bulk composition and grade)
- mica (mus and/or bt) + quartz ubiquitous
- plagioclase, chlorite, garnet, Al2SiO5, staurolite, cordierite, K-feldspar,
graphite, ilmenite ...etc...
(depending on grade and specific bulk composition)

lower P,T greenschist facies: chlorite + muscovite

+ quartz ± albite (An0-10) ± biotite ± garnet
amphibolite facies: muscovite + biotite
+ quartz + plagioclase (An20-40) ± garnet
± staurolite ± kyanite ± sillimanite
granulite facies: biotite + quartz + K-feldspar
+ plagioclase (An30-50) + sillimanite ± garnet
higher P,T ± cordierite ± orthopyroxene
 LAB 5: PELITES
c) mineral assemblage (reflects bulk composition and grade)
- mica (mus and/or bt) + quartz ubiquitous
- plagioclase, chlorite, garnet, Al2SiO5, staurolite, cordierite, K-feldspar,
graphite, ilmenite ...etc...
(depending on grade and specific bulk composition)
can also refer to metamorphic grade of pelites in terms of
“index minerals” that appear sequentially as grade increases:

lower P,T chlorite

greenschist facies
biotite
garnet
staurolite amphibolite facies
kyanite
higher P,T sillimanite
granulite facies
at low P, mod-high T, andalusite may be the stable Al2SiO5 mineral
cordierite may be present instead of garnet
 LAB 5: PELITES

mineral assemblage
changes with grade
Ky
Sil (in fact, “grade” defined
by mineral assemblage!)

low-mod T, mod-high P:
Ky + Ms stable
And
high T:
Sil + Kfs stable
low P:
And + Ms stable
Al2SiO5 phase diagram superimposed on
Ms + Qtz = Al2SiO5 + Kfs + H2O
 LAB 5: PELITES
a) protolith
- fine-grained sedimentary rocks (mudstones, shales, siltstones)
+/- small proportion of interlayered coarser-grained sedimentary
material (sandstone)
b) bulk composition (= pelite)
- relatively rich in Si, Al, K (protolith mainly clay + quartz)
- relatively poor in Ca, Mg
c) mineral assemblage
- mica (mus +/- bt) + quartz ubiquitous
- plagioclase, chlorite, garnet, Al2SiO5, staurolite, cordierite, K-
feldspar, graphite, ilmenite ...etc...
(depending on grade and specific bulk composition)
d) texture
- planar fabrics generally well developed (+/- lineation)
- sedimentary layering may be preserved
- porphyroblasts very common
 LAB 5: PELITES
d) texture
- planar fabrics generally well developed (+/- lineation)
- sedimentary layering may be preserved
- porphyroblasts very common

types of planar fabrics in pelites:

- sedimentary layering (relict, inherited from protolith)
- parallel alignment of sheet silicates
slaty cleavage (fine-grained, rock splits easily)
schistosity (medium-grained, rock splits less easily)
micro-scale folds common = crenulations
- compositional banding (other than sedimentary layering)
formed by deformation (of some pre-existing feature)
formed by injection of veins
formed by metamorphic segregation (chemical migration)
formed by in situ melting
 LAB 5: PELITES
types of planar fabrics in pelites:
- sedimentary layering (relict, inherited from protolith)

MR-6: relict sedimentary layering in slate (PPL,

6.25 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
types of planar fabrics in pelites:
- sedimentary layering (relict, inherited from protolith)

slate
originally
mudstone

relict bedding
originally
siltstone
metasiltstone

MR-6: relict sedimentary layering in slate (PPL,

6.25 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
types of planar fabrics in pelites:
- parallel alignment of sheet silicates
slaty cleavage (fine-grained, rock splits easily)
schistosity (medium-grained, rock splits less easily)
micro-scale folds common = crenulations

MR-6: slaty cleavage cutting MR-7: schistosity with

relict bedding (PPL, 2.5 mm) crenulations (PPL, 6.25 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
types of planar fabrics in pelites:
- parallel alignment of sheet silicates
slaty cleavage (fine-grained, rock splits easily)
schistosity (medium-grained, rock splits less easily)
micro-scale folds common = crenulations

crenulations
a ge
a v
c le
t y
ls a

schistosity

MR-6: slaty cleavage cutting MR-8: schistosity with

relict bedding (PPL, 2.5 mm) crenulations (PPL, 6.25 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
types of planar fabrics in pelites:
- compositional banding (other than sedimentary layering)
formed by deformation (of some pre-existing feature)
formed by injection of veins
formed by metamorphic segregation (chemical migration)
formed by in situ melting

MR-9: gneissic banding

defined by biotite-rich +
quartz+feldspar-rich layers
(PPL, 6.25 mm)
(formed by deformation + melting)
 LAB 5: PELITES
d) texture
- planar fabrics generally well developed (+/- lineation)
- sedimentary layering may be preserved
- porphyroblasts very common

porphyroblasts in pelites – note the following:

- mineral(s) (garnet? kyanite? etc....)
- shape (euhedral, subhedral, anhedral)
- size (< 5 mm, > 1 cm, etc......)
- abundance (rare, common, abundant, etc....)
- inclusions (if any)
- what minerals?
- what kind of pattern (if any)?
 LAB 5: PELITES
porphyroblasts in pelites – note the following:

mineral(s):
staurolite
shape:
euhedral
size:
up to 1 cm
abundance:
abundant
inclusions:
very abundant;
quartz, ilmenite,
garnet, biotite;
define internal fabric MR-7: staurolite porphyroblast in
equivalent to matrix fabric pelitic schist (PPL, 6 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
porphyroblasts in pelites – note the following:

mineral(s):
staurolite
shape:
euhedral
size:
up to 1 cm
abundance:
abundant
inclusions:
very abundant;
quartz, ilmenite,
garnet, biotite;
define internal fabric MR-7: inclusions in staurolite
equivalent to matrix fabric porphyroblast (PPL, 2.5 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
porphyroblasts in pelites – note the following:

mineral(s):
staurolite
shape:
euhedral
size:
up to 1 cm
abundance:
abundant
inclusions:
very abundant;
quartz, ilmenite,
garnet, biotite;
define internal fabric MR-7: inclusions in staurolite
equivalent to matrix fabric porphyroblast (XN, 2.5 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
some special rock names that apply mainly to pelites:
slate - fine-grained metasedimentary rock with a strong cleavage,
defined by alignment of fine-grained platy minerals
(chlorite +/- graphite +/- muscovite)
phyllite – fine- to medium- grained metasedimentary rock with a
strong schistosity, defined by alignment of platy minerals
(chlorite +/- muscovite +/- biotite)
schist – medium- to coarse-grained metasedimentary rock with a
strong schistosity, defined by alignment of platy minerals
(chlorite +/- muscovite +/- biotite)
 LAB 5: PELITES
some special rock names that apply mainly to pelites:
slate - fine-grained metasedimentary rock with a strong cleavage,
defined by alignment of fine-grained platy minerals
(chlorite +/- graphite +/- muscovite)
phyllite – fine- to medium- grained metasedimentary rock with a
strong schistosity, defined by alignment of platy minerals
(chlorite +/- muscovite +/- biotite)
schist – medium- to coarse-grained metasedimentary rock with a
strong schistosity, defined by alignment of platy minerals
(chlorite +/- muscovite +/- biotite)
other names that may apply to some samples in Lab 5:
gneiss – medium- to coarse-grained metamorphic rock with
well defined, regular, cm-scale compositional layering
defined by variable % light- and dark-coloured minerals
migmatite – “mixed rock” with “granitic” + “metamorphic” components
irregular or cross-cutting “granitic” bands or veins in a darker,
somewhat finer-grained, well foliated host
 LAB 5: PELITES
gneiss – medium- to coarse-grained metamorphic rock with
well defined, regular, cm-scale compositional layering
defined by variable % light- and dark-coloured minerals
migmatite – “mixed rock” with “granitic” + “metamorphic” components
irregular or cross-cutting “granitic” bands or veins (leucosome)
in a darker, somewhat finer-grained, well foliated host (mesosome)

MR-9: regular gneissic banding formed MR-10: irregular banding formed by

by deformation + melting (PPL, 6.25 mm) deformation + melting (PPL, 6.25 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
gneiss – medium- to coarse-grained metamorphic rock with
well defined, regular, cm-scale compositional layering
defined by variable % light- and dark-coloured minerals
migmatite – “mixed rock” with “granitic” + “metamorphic” components
irregular or cross-cutting “granitic” bands or veins (leucosome)
in a darker, somewhat finer-grained, well foliated host (mesosome)
these textures best observed in hand sample
commonly gradational
(gneissic migmatite, migmatitic gneiss)

MR-9: regular gneissic banding formed MR-10: irregular banding formed by

by deformation + melting (PPL, 6.25 mm) deformation + melting (PPL, 6.25 mm)
 LAB 5: PELITES
Classification/nomenclature according to IUGS:
a) protolith – do features inherited from protolith dominate?
if so, add meta- to original rock name
b) bulk composition – is there a special rock name that fits this bulk
composition? if so, use it!
(alternatively, modify textural root name with compositional term)
c) mineral assemblage – are one or two minerals in the rock particularly
important? if so, add mineral name(s) to root name based on texture
(see below)
d) texture – is there a special rock name that fits this texture?
if so, use it! if not....
is the rock foliated? if not, use term “granofels”
does the rock have a foliation defined by alignment of
sheet silicates? if so, use term “schist”
is the rock medium- to coarse-grained, with pronounced cm-scale
compositional banding? if so, use term “gneiss”