Earth Materials and

Processes, Earth and Life Science

Metamorphism and Its Effects in Rock

Formation
Objectives

• At the end of the discussion, you will be able to:

• compare and contrast the formation of the different types of
igneous rocks,
• describe the changes in mineral components and texture of
rocks due to changes in pressure and temperature, and
• describe how rocks behave under different types of stress
such as compression, pulling apart, and shearing.
• Igneous come from the Latin word ignis which means heat or fire.
Igneous rocks are formed when the magma or lava cools and
solidifies. It may happen below (plutonic) or above (volcanic) the
Earth’s surface.
• Two Types of Igneous Rocks
• Intrusive igneous rocks are formed when the magma hardens before
an eruption occurs. Different rock materials allow the formation of
intrusive igneous rocks. The most common example is granite. Granite
is used in floor tiles and monuments.
Extrusive igneous rocks
are formed when the lava cools and solidifies on the
Earth’s surface. The texture of these rocks is finer as
compared to the intrusive igneous rocks. Due to slow
cooling of the lava, large crystals are formed on the
rocks. The most common example is basalt.
Basalt is used for construction purposes such as
pavements, railroads, and road base.
Metamorphism of Rocks
When you expose igneous rocks to intense heat and
pressure, they could undergo Metamorphism is the
process of change in the form and structure of rocks
due to intense heat and pressure. It comes from the
Greek word
metamorphoun meaning transform or change shape.
The rocks that undergo metamorphism are converted
to metamorphic rocks.
• Types of Metamorphism
• Contact metamorphism is the process where the country rock
adjacent to the igneous intrusions is altered by the high heat coming
from the intrusions.
• Country rocks are rocks surrounding the igneous intrusions. Igneous
intrusions form when molten magma moves and seeps through
fractures and in
• between crystals of rocks. The zone of metamorphosis that surrounds
the intrusions is called halo or aureole. Some examples of rocks that
undergo contact metamorphism include marble and emery rock.
• Dynamic metamorphism is the process where rocks along
the fault zones are altered due to high pressure. The rocks
that are formed with this type of metamorphism are called
mylonites. Mylonites are compact, fine-grained rocks with
thin laminations or layers.
• Regional metamorphism is the most common form of
metamorphism that occurs in broad areas. It is caused by
high temperature and pressure that resulted from the
thickening of the crust and plate tectonics
• Types of Stresses in the Earth’s Crust
• Compression causes the rocks to push or to collide with each other.
This can make the rocks come together or make the plates rise.
Mountains and hills could be formed when two plates collide.
• Tension is the opposite of compression. The tension force pulls the
rocks away from each other. This force created continental drifts and
mid-ocean ridges. It moved the oceanic crust away from each other
that resulted in the rising of less dense rocks coming from the mantle
• Shear force pushes the crust in different directions. Shearing results in
the breaking of the large parts of the crust into smaller sizes. This
force always happens along the plate boundaries.
• Plate boundaries are the location where the two plates meet. When
the two plates rub each other and move in opposite directions, it
creates friction. This friction leads to the shaking of the Earth’s ground
or earthquake.