How Do Grain Patterns Compare?
Adapted from Pearson Online
Metamorphic rocks are rocks that form when heat, pressure, or both heat and pressure
change existing rocks. In this activity, you will infer how the sedimentary rock limestone can
change to become the metamorphic rock marble.
INQUIRY FOCUS Infer
Procedure
1. Use the hand lens to observe the texture of the
limestone. Recall that texture is the size, shape, and
arrangement of minerals or other grains in a rock.
2. Draw a detailed sketch of the texture of limestone in the
box on the left.
Materials
hand lens
limestone
marble
colored pencils
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for the sample of marble.
Limestone
Marble
Think It Over
Within Earth’s crust, limestone can become metamorphosed to form marble. Infer
how this happens.
What term is used to describe the texture of the marble? What does this mean?
Do you think the minerals in both rocks are the same? Test with acid. Explain.
IGNEOUS AND METAMORPHIC ROCKS