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Metamorphism: formation
of
new rocks from old rocks by Temperature and Pressure*
*metamorphism is NOT lithification: T and P are much higher, deeper in
Earth
*metamorphism does NOT involve melting; minerals transform while solid
two parts to
metamorphism:
(a) change minerals: new minerals grow from old under influence
of T and P
1. one old mineral into one new mineral (polymorphs)
ex/ graphite to diamond; calcite1 to calcite2, quartz to coesite
2. old minerals to new minerals via chemical reactions between
solids
ex/ Na-feldspar + Ca-pyroxene
=
garnet + Na-pyroxene
basalt
=
eclogite
(b) change form: change texture (shape and arrangement)
of
minerals/objects
ex. of change form: stretched out pebbles in a metamorphosed
conglomerate
ex. of change form: mudstone--slate--phyllite--schist--gneiss
alignment of minerals (slate-phyllite-schist) versus new metamorphic
banding
(gneiss)
Metamorphic Variables:
what
factors control the metamorphic rock you get? "bake a cake"
Starting Rock or
Protolith; what starting minerals, what composition (ingredients)
Isochemical metamorphism (constant composition) versus Changing
composition
chemical reactions can produce gases and fluids that burp off into Earth
Pressure (how
much weight) and Temperature (how hot): depends on depth
in
Earth
P and T increase in Earth but at different rates depending upon
specific
place
Metamorphic Grade or Intensity:
how high was P and T, how deep in Earth?
low
grade/intensity
(<20 km ±), medium grade (20-40 km ±), high
grade (>40 km ±)
ultra-metamorphism:
too hot, too much water will melt rocks = migmatites, magma
example: metamorphism of basalt (dark volcanic rock) to
make
three meta-basalts:
low grade metabasalt = greenstone: white
Na-feldspar,
green amphibole, chlorite
medium grade metabasalt = amphibolite: black
Ca-feldspar,
black amphibole, garnet
high grade metabasalt = eclogite: red garnet,
green
Na-pyroxene
Metamorphic Minerals:
many
common minerals are produced by metamorphism
also: many gems are metamorphic minerals; emerald, ruby,
tourmaline,
garnet, jade...
Index minerals;
special minerals that indicate grade/intensity of metamorphism
examples: chlorite, green amph. = low.
garnet, biotite = medium. pyroxene = high
Metamorphism and Plate Tectonics:
metamorphic style depends upon tectonic setting
(a) contact
metamorphism:
aka "low pressure " (variable temperature)
baked rocks around/in contact with magma bodies (plutons) in shallow
crust
highest T metamorphic rock nearest pluton, lowest T rock farthest away
magma bodies: tectonic settings such as rifts, in arcs above
subduction
zones, etc.
(b) subduction zone
metamorphism: aka "low temperature " (variable pressure)
along the subduction zone itself, cold oceanic crust pushed into mantle
lowest P at top of subduction zone, highest P deepest along subduction
zone
(c) regional/collisional
metamorphism: T and P both increasing rapidly into crust
mountain building metamorphism produced by collision of two continents
lowest T-P in shallow part of mountain belt, highest T-P in deep
mountain
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