Physical Characteristics Of Metamorphic Rocks

Foliated metamorphic rocks are arranged in sheets or planes meaning that the composition of the rocks is relatively uniform and disperses fairly evenly due to pressure. Amphibolite amphibolites are dark colored rocks with amphibole usually the common black amphibole known as hornblende.

Features Of Metamorphic Rocks

Example of metamorphic rocks.

Physical characteristics of metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. The bulk density of a rock is ρ b wg vb where wg is the weight of grains sedimentary rocks or crystals igneous and metamorphic rocks and natural cements if any and vb is the total volume of the grains or crystals plus the void pore space. Luster may be metallic glassy earthy pearly or silky.

Appearance of mineral in ordinary light that is the appearance due to reflected light. If the cooling occurs on the earth s surface the rock is an extrusive or volcanic rock. Metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are subjected to intense heat and pressure usually deep below the earth s surface.

Much of the earth s continental crust is composed of metamorphic and igneous rocks. If the minerals looks glassy like quartz its luster is glassy. If the minerals looks metal as do galena and pyrite its luster is said to be metallic.

Quartzite quartzite is a. Together these two rock types form the base material at the core of the earth s major continental masses. Geologists describe different igneous rocks according to their texture and composition.

Depending on the composition of the rocks being metamorphosed there are two major types of metamorphic texture. Types of metamorphic rocks. Overlying this core are often thick layers of sedimentary rocks.

Characteristics of metamorphic rocks. In some regions this base rock is exposed to the atmosphere and is known as shields. Metamorphic rocks are those rocks which are formed when existing rocks undergo a drastic change in their physical properties due to heat and pressure.

Metamorphic rocks for kids. List of metamorphic rocks. Finally sedimentary rocks are formed when sediments of earlier rocks keep depositing on top of each other on any given surface.

Metamorphism is also said to be a process that balances or maintains the equilibrium of the rock cycle which is otherwise changed during the occurrence of an igneous activity. The most common characteristics or structures that are present in metamorphic rocks are foliation and lineation textures and structures. Nonfoliated metamorphic rocks hornfels hornfels are very hard rocks formed by contact metamorphism of shale siltstone or sandstone.

What are the characteristics of metamorphic rocks.

Pdf Physical And Mechanical Properties Of Metamorphic Rocks