Class Notes: Metamorphic Rocks, Geology of Saskatchewan, and Meteorites Flashcards
What is the difference between metamorphism and deformation?
Metamorphism is a chemical process
Deformation is a physical process
Where does metamorphism and deformation primarily occur?
In orogens
Where does metamorphism take place?
At depths >5km, where there is high pressure (lithostatic pressure) and high temperature (especially where >300 degrees C).
What is recrystallization with metamorphism?
This involves ion by ion disaggregation of mineral grains and the reassembly of these ions into new unit cels which grow into new crystal grains
What does limestone recrystallize into? Olivine?
Limestone – marble
Olivine – serpentine
Which metamorphic minerals(s) will form depends on the ___ ___ ___.
original chemical composition
What is included under mineral stability (3 things)?
- temperature
- pressure
- fluids present
What is the protolith?
original rock
What are the three types of protoliths?
any igneous, sedimentary, or pre-existing metamorphic rock
What are the steps in metamorphism?
- protolith
- deeply buried
- temperature increase (250-300 degrees C)
- thermally induced chemical alterations
- ions change places
- recrystallization
- metamorphic rock
How much of the Earth’s Continental Crust is composed volumetrically, of metamorphic rocks?
90%
What percent of near-surface rocks are metamorphic?
60%
What percent of the rocks below 10 km depth are metamorphic?
100%
Metamorphic rocks occur everywhere that rock temp. exceeds___(10 km depth).
250-300 degrees C
Where do metamorphic rocks occur on Earth’s surface?
Wherever uplift has occurred with erosion to bring them to the present surface – primarily in orogens (thrust faulting and orogenic isostatic uplift)
What are all precambrian shields made out of?
metamorphosed rock
What are are all young and old tectonic mountain belts composed of?
metamorphosed rock
What are the 4 common names for metamorphic rock?
- protolith
- slate
- shist
- gneiss
What is slate (grains and grade)?
slaty cleavage fine grained (low grade)
What is shist (grains and grade)?
visible grains (med grade)
What is gneiss (grains and grade?
course grained (med-high grade)
What are the two types of metamorphism?
- contact
2. regions
Where does contact meta. occur?
Occurs in ‘haloes’ or aureoles adjacent to intrusive bodies, especially batholiths (may or may not be in an orogen).
What does the intrusive body provide in contact meta.?
The intrusive body provides some of the heat and some of the pressure necessary and perhaps some of the fluids.
Where does regional meta. occur?
- occurs in orogens and misrelated to deformation
- occurs over large volumes (surface areas)
What is the ‘common’ type of metamorphism?
regional
What are metamorphic facies?
grade, zones
What are metamorphic facies based on?
Mineral stability under conditions of various temperatures and pressures (fluids not a concern here)
What is the most important part of meta. facies?
temperature
What is the cordilleran orogen?
An enormous mountain belt that extends down through the andes to the tip of south america
What is the youngest tectonically action region of north america?
the cordilleran orogen
What is the cordilleran orogen composed of?
It consists of folds an defaulted sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rocks and igneous rocks including large granite batholiths. It is tectonically and volcanically active.
What are the “platform” rocks almost entirely composed of? What are their strata like? What do they blanket?
sedimentary rocks that have undergone very little folding and faulting and have experienced no metamorphism. Their strata are flat-lying or gently dipping and they blanket the buried part of the precambrian shields.
Is the cordilleran mtn. belt younger or older than the appalachian mtn. belt?
younger
How can we tell the age of an orogenic mountain belt?
We can tell the age of an orogenic belt if we can find the youngest deformed rocks overlain unconformably by undeformed sedimentary rocks – such a a relationship usually shows up as an angular unconformity.