Earth Sciences 1070A/B Lecture 6: Unit 6 - Metamorphism

• School: Western University
• Department: Earth Sciences
• Course: Earth Sciences 1070A/B
• Professor: Natalie Pietrzak- Renaud

Document Summary

Metamorphism is defined as the change that takes place within a body of rock as a result of it being subjected to conditions that are different from those in which it was formed. Main factors that influence the mineralogical makeup of a metamorphic rock: the bulk composition of the rock, the pressure and temperature conditions at the time of crystallization, the composition of the fluid phase in the rock during metamorphism. Sedimentary or igneous recrystallize when higher pressures and/or temperatures surpass the original cooling temperature of one or more minerals. These pressures and temperatures are not enough to melt the rock into magma, but they do cause some minerals to recrystallize by promoting exchange of their elements. Metamorphic rocks all originate from a parent rock. The type and degree of transformation from the original parent depends on the type and intensity of the individual or combined metamorphic processes.