Metamorphic Rocks: Schist - Gneiss
Metamorphic Rocks: Schist - Gneiss
Metamorphic Rocks: Schist - Gneiss
MetaMorphic
Rocks
Schist - Gneiss
Sec:3 Group : 1
Metamorphic rocks make up a large part of the Earth's crust and form 12% of the Earth's
land surface .Uplift and Erosion help bring metamorphic rock to the Earth's surface .They
are classified by texture and by chemical and mineral assemblage .They may be formed
simply by being deep beneath the Earth's surface, subjected to high temperatures and the
great pressure of the rock layers above it. They can form from tectonic pro cesses such as
continental collisions, which cause horizontal pressure, friction and distortion.
If not enough heat and temperature were applied another metamorphic rock could have
been formed called phyllite, which is not as hard as slate. However, if the shale was in an
area that was exposed to higher pressures and moderate temperatures, it might have been
transformed into schist. The clay in the shale could have been converted to mica, which
gives schist its shiny look. Granite is a light-colored rock made of quartz, feldspars, mica,
and small amounts of hornblende. The crystals of all these minerals are randomly
arranged. Granite can be metamorphosed into a rock called gneiss. Gneiss has about the
same mineral composition as granite, but the pressure of metamorphism causes the
minerals to line up, giving gneiss a distinct banded appearance. Schist may also be
converted into gneiss, if increased pressure and temperature is added .
The metamorphic system can also react differently if fluids are part of the system
Serpentinite, a mottled green rock, is usually formed with high pressure and low
temperature. The original rock could contain a large amount of olivine (i.e., basalt). The
olivine (Mg2SiO4) reacts with water (H2O) to form the mineral serpentine
(Mg3Si2O5(OH)4)plus magnesium oxide (MgO).
- Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated metamorphic rock that is created by the alteration of shale
or mudstone by low-grade regional metamorphism. Before the mid-19th century, the terms
slate, shale and schist were not sharply distinguished.
Mineral composition
Slate is composed mainly of clay minerals or micas, depending upon the degree of
metamorphism to which it has been subjected. The original clay minerals in shale alter to
micas with increasing levels of heat and pressure. Slate can also contain abundant quartz
and small amounts of feldspar, calcite, pyrite, hematite, and other minerals.
Uses
Mineral composition
Gneiss cannot be identified by its composition, most specimens have bands of feldspar and
quartz grains in an interlocking texture, some specimens of gneiss contain distinctive
minerals characteristic of the metamorphic environment. These minerals might include
biotite, cordierite, sillimanite, kyanite, staurolite, andalusite, and garnet .
Uses
Gneiss is used a crushed stone in road construction, building site prepar ation, and
landscaping projects.
Types
There are many types of Gneiss which are located in different places in the world.