Premium Only Content
Not sure?
Metamorphic rocks are one of the three main rock types, alongside igneous and sedimentary rocks. Here's an overview of metamorphic rocks:
Formation:
Metamorphism: Metamorphic rocks form through the process of metamorphism, where existing rock types (protoliths) are subjected to high temperatures, pressures, or chemically active fluids without melting, leading to changes in their mineral composition, texture, or both.
Characteristics:
Texture: Metamorphic rocks can have either foliated or non-foliated textures:
Foliated: These rocks show a platy or layered structure due to the alignment of minerals under pressure. Examples include slate, schist, and gneiss.
Non-foliated: These rocks do not exhibit banding or alignment of minerals, often because they were formed under high temperature with less pressure. Examples include marble and quartzite.
Mineral Composition: The minerals in metamorphic rocks can be recrystallized from the original rock or new minerals can form. Common minerals include mica, chlorite, talc, and new forms of quartz, feldspar, or garnet.
Examples:
Slate: Formed from shale, it's fine-grained and splits into thin sheets.
Schist: Known for its platy minerals like mica which give it a shiny appearance.
Gneiss: Shows distinct banding of light and dark minerals, formed typically from granite.
Marble: Comes from limestone or dolomite; it's known for its ability to take a polish.
Quartzite: Created from sandstone, it's very hard and durable due to the tight interlocking of quartz grains.
Significance:
Geological History: Metamorphic rocks provide clues about past tectonic activities, mountain building events, and the thermal history of the Earth's crust.
Economic: Many are used as building materials due to their strength and aesthetic qualities (like marble for sculptures and buildings).
Scientific Research: They are studied to understand plate tectonics, metamorphic processes, and the history of the Earth's lithosphere.
Metamorphic rocks illustrate how dynamic and ever-changing the Earth's crust can be, showing that under the right conditions, rock can transform dramatically without melting.
-
LIVE
VINCE
2 hours agoIs the Shutdown Coming To An End? (Guest Host Hayley Caronia) | Episode 165 - 11/10/25 VINCE
19,819 watching -
1:03:54
Graham Allen
2 hours agoIs the Shutdown FINALLY ending!?! What was the deal?? + 50 Years Mortgages, $2K checks and More!!
24.6K49 -
LIVE
Badlands Media
12 hours agoBadlands Daily: November 10, 2025
3,320 watching -
LIVE
Wendy Bell Radio
5 hours agoSchumer's Shutdown Ends With Democrats Getting Nothing
7,833 watching -
1:07:40
Chad Prather
22 hours agoHow to Rise Again: Finding Life in the Garden of the Empty Tomb
54.2K29 -
LIVE
LFA TV
12 hours agoLIVE & BREAKING NEWS! | MONDAY 11/10/25
3,511 watching -
24:21
It’s the Final Round
9 hours ago $8.34 earnedNBA Best Bets & Player Props | Full Analysis & Predictions, FREE Today (Monday 11/10) Nov 10th
19.1K1 -
2:05:29
BEK TV
3 days agoTrent Loos in the Morning - 11/10/2025
14.8K2 -
20:28
Nikko Ortiz
21 hours agoShooting Extremely Expensive Guns
171K14 -
8:32
MattMorseTV
18 hours ago $26.15 earnedSchumer just TORCHED $90,000,000,000.
36.8K89