Metamorphic Rocks: Heat, Pressure and Metamorphism
The process of formation of metamorphic rocks starts with existing rocks. Then, they undergo some sort of change due to immense heat or pressure.
For example, a rock made of sand is “metamorphosed” into another type of rock when it comes in contact from intense heat. They can’t melt because then it would be heading for the igneous state.
When it’s metamorphosed, it’s soft and pliable like cookie dough. This intense pressure for metamorphic rocks comes from inside Earth.
Earth’s major mountain chains contain metamorphic rocks because it’s at plate tectonics boundaries where this intense pressure exists.
Contact metamorphism from intense heating
Contact metamorphism involves existing rocks coming into contact with intense heat. This heat generally comes from lava or magma.
When layers of rocks come in close contact to magma, they can metamorphosize into another type of rock.
And this usually happens because a magma plumes moves to the upper part of the crust.
So contact metamorphism involves the surrounding rock being burned from intense heat. Heat ranges from around 300° to over 800°C.
Regional metamorphism from immense pressure
Instead of from heat, the key catalyst for regional metamorphism is mostly from pressure. For example, when there are two convergent plates pushing together, there will be immense pressure at the fault in between.
It’s at this fault in the middle where rocks will undergo regional metamorphism. For example, gneiss is a metamorphic that forms due to intense pressure. Gneiss is known for having bands where all the layers are squeezed.
Then, if you are even more pressure to gneiss, of would melt into igneous rocks. Gneiss is usually the extent of metamorphism that we see.
