METAMORPHIC ROCKS

 

Metamorphic rocks are formed when other rocks (generally sedimentary, but potentially igneous or even older metamorphic rocks) are subjected to heat and pressure. This process changes the character of the initial rocks and minerals in distinctive ways. Extreme pressures compact the original rocks, often flattening crystals into distorted shapes. In some cases, the pressures can change minerals into other minerals with the same or different chemistry. High temperatures can encourage chemical changes and diffusion. Heat and pressure can also force some minerals to decompose and/or separate from the host rock. For example, calcite is unstable at high temperatures and will decompose into lime (CaO) and CO2.

These are the primary metamorphic rocks:

  • SLATE
  • PHYLLITE
  • SCHIST
  • GNEISS
  • MARBLE
  • QUARTZITE

ROCKS
 IGNEOUS
  ANDESITE
  ANORTHOSITE
  BASALT
  CARBONATITE
  DACITE
  DIORITE
  DUNITE
  GABBRO
  GRANITE
  KIMBERLITE
  KOMATIITE
  LAMPROPHYRES
  MONZONITE
  OBSIDIAN
  PEGMATITE
  PERIDOTITE
  PUMICE
  PYROXENITE
  RHYOLITE
  SCORIA
  SYENITE
  
 METAMORPHIC
  GNEISS
  MARBLE
  QUARTZITE
  PHYLLITE
  SCHIST
  SERPENTINITE
  SLATE
  SOAPSTONE
 
 SEDIMENTARY
  ANHYDRITE
  BANDED IRON FORMATION
  BRECCIA
  CHALK
  CHERT
  COAL
  CONGLOMERATE
  COQUINA
  DOLOMITE
  GYPSUM
  HALITE
  LIMESTONE
  MUDSTONE
  PHOSPHORITE
  SANDSTONE
  SHALE
  SILTSTONE
  TILLITE
 
UNCONSOLIDATED SEDIMENTS
  ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS
  LAHARS
  MORAINES
  PEAT
  SANDS
  SOILS
  TEPHRA
  TILLS
  ORES
  MINING TALUS PILES
 

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