1. Rocks that have changed due to intense temperature and pressure.
Metamorphic Rocks
Rocks that have changed due to intense temperature and pressure.
“Meta” means “change” and “morphosis” means “form” in Greek.
Igneous, sedimentary and other metamorphic rocks can change to become metamorphic rocks.

2. What occurs in the Earth to change these rocks?
Pressure from overlying rock layers
High heat, but not enough to melt the rock
Rocks may be flattened or bent or atoms may be exchanged to form new minerals.

3. How are metamorphic rocks classified?
Foliated—mineral grains are flattened and line up in parallel bands
Example: gneiss formed from rearrangement of minerals in granite into bands

4. How are metamorphic rocks classified?
Non-Foliated—No bands are formed
Example: marble formed from limestone

5. Where do metamorphic rocks usually form?
Where magma intrudes relatively cool rock.
Near colliding plates (near mountain ranges)
Places that are covered miles thick with other rock causing pressure.
When hot water intrudes rock.

6. Rare Places of Formation:
Where a meteorite strikes Earth.
Where lightning bolts strike rocks.

8. Metamorphic Environments:
Contact (thermal) metamorphism – occurs when rocks immediately surrounding a molten igneous body are “baked” and therefore altered from their original state.

9. Metamorphic Environments:
Hydrothermal metamorphism – when hot, iron-rich fluids circulate through fissures and cracks that develop in rock.

10. Metamorphic Environments:
Regional metamorphism – when large segments of Earth’s crust are intensely deformed where two plates come together.

11. Metamorphic Environments:
Burial metamorphism – occurs where very thick sedimentary layers are found in a subsiding basin.

12. Metamorphic Environments:
Impact metamorphism – occurs when high speed projectiles (meteorites) strike Earth’s surface.