Name: _____________________________
Metamorphic Rocks
How METAMORPHIC Rock Is Formed
Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have
"morphed" into another kind of rock.
These rocks were once igneous or
sedimentary rocks. How do
sedimentary and igneous rocks
change? The rocks are under tons and
tons of pressure, which fosters heat
build up, and this causes them to
change. If you exam metamorphic rock
samples closely, you'll discover how
flattened some of the grains in the rock
are.
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow1/oct98/create/metamorph.htm
Examples of Metamorphic Rocks
SCHIST
Schist rocks are metamorphic. These rocks can be formed from basalt, an igneous rock;
shale, a sedimentary rock; or slate, a metamorphic rock. Through tremendous heat and
pressure, these rocks were transformed into this new kind of rock.
GNEISS
Gneiss rocks are metamorphic. These rocks may have been granite, which is an
igneous rock, but heat and pressure changed it. You can see how the mineral grains in
the rock were flattened through tremendous heat and pressure and are arranged in
alternating patterns.
QUARTZITE
Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that is produced by the metamorphism of sandstone. It is
composed primarily of quartz.
SLATE
Slate is a foliated metamorphic rock that is formed through the metamorphism of shale. It is a low grade
metamorphic rock that splits into thin pieces.
MARBLE
Marble is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that is produced from the metamorphism of
limestone. It is composed primarily of calcium carbonate
http://library.thinkquest.org/J002289/meta.html
METAMORPHIC Rocks Notes
What are they?
____________________________________________________________________________________
The two ways metamorphic rocks are changed:
1) __________________________
2)__________________________
When a metamorphic rock is formed inside the Earth, the crystals
are ___________________ .
The two main types of meta morphic rocks are:
Metamorphic rocks can be made from
a. igneous rocks
b. sedimentary rocks
c. other metamorphic rocks
d. all of the above
Exploring Metamorphic Rocks
List 5 metamorphic rocks and describe each.
Rock Name
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Description- What do you notice? Look at its
crystal size, texture, color, etc.
Do you think the rock was cooled above
or below the Earth’s surface (intrusive
or extrusive)? Why?