Geography

What are metamorphic rocks? Formation of metamorphic rock?

len Alfred Ajibola - Thu, 24th January, 2019 @ 6:28 PM

Topics in Geography

Environmental geography explained with its branches Igneous rock explained with its types and textures Characteristics of Igneous Rock What are Sedimentary Rocks? Formation and Types of Sedimentary Rock Characteristics of Sedimentary Rock Types and Characteristics of Metamorphic Rock Physical geography explained with its branches Geography Scheme of Work, SS1, First Term Geography Scheme of Work, SS1, Second Term Geography Scheme of Work, SS1, Third Term Classification and types of planets with their characteristics Planets of the solar system explained with their characteristics Functions of the Atmosphere Layers of the Atmosphere Solar System in Geography Composition of the Atmosphere Human geography explained with its branches What are metamorphic rocks? Formation of metamorphic rock?


Academic Questions in Geography

Please click here to see all Questions and Answers

Which of the following is not a branch of environmental geography?

  • A. Physical Geography

  • B. Hazards

  • C. Political Ecology

  • D. Environmental Perception

  • E. Landscape Studies

  • F. Energy and Resource Geography

Sandstone is an example of _____ ​​​​​​.

  • A. Sandy soil

  • B. Loamy soil

  • C. Clay soil

  • D. Igneous rock

  • E. Sedimentary rock 

  • F. Metamorphic rock

Which of the following isn't an example of metamorphic rock?

  • A. Schist

  • B. Quartzite

  • C. Gabbro

  • D. Marble

  • E. Slate

  • F. Serpentinite

Which of the following statements is false concerning metamorphic rock?

  • A. The are less dense than igneous and sedimentary rocks

  • B. They can be foliated or non foliated

  • C. They are crystalline in nature

  • D. They have a more coarse texture than their protolith

  • E. They may be formed from an older metamorphic rock

  • F. They are characterized with precious metals and stones

Earth's distance from the sun is approximately _____ million kilometers.

  • A. 147

  • B. 85

  • C. 40

  • D. 220

  • E. 309

  • F. 400

Which of the following is not a branch of physical geography?

  • A. Economic Geography

  • B. Religious Geography

  • C. Social Geography

  • D. Resource Geography

  • E. Settlement Geography

  • F. Industrial Geography

Water resource geography is a branch under physiography.

  • A. True

  • B. False

With regards to ozone, which of the following is incorrect?

  • A. Ozone is a triatomic molecule

  • B. Ozone layer aids in preventing excess ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth

  • C. Ozone is a natural greenhouses gas

  • D. Ozone comprises of oxygen molecules only

  • E. Ozone layer brings about a global warming on earth

  • F. Ozone is present in the stratosphere



Metamorphic Rock:

We have 3 types or classes of rock based on how they are formed. These are:

  1. Igneous Rock

  2. Sedimentary Rock

  3. Metamorphic Rock


The term 'metamorphic' is derived from the word metamorphose which means 'to change form'. In this regard, meta means 'change' while morph means 'form', thus giving credence to the name 'metamorphic'.

Metamorphic rocks make up about 12% of the earth crust and can also be formed beneath the earth surface. Their formation requires the transformation of an existing rock or original rock called protolith. The protolith may be an igneous rock, a sedimentary rock or another older metamorphic rock.


Metamorphic rocks originate from igneous, sedimentary or an older metamorphic rock that had altered their form or recrystallized through visible changes in their physical atmosphere. In short, metamorphic rock is a rock formed from another rock.


Examples of metamorphic rocks include schist (a converted basalt), quartzite (a compressed sandstone), and marble (a compressed limestone or dolomite), gneiss and slate. These are shown in the image below:

Len Academy


Formation of Metamorphic Rock:

Metamorphic rocks are derived from a variety of changes occuring within its protolith. These resultant changes are due to intense heat and pressure, chemical activity and hot mineral-rich fluids present inside the earth crust. The process of igneous and sedimentary rocks changing into metamorphic rock is termed metamorphism. In simple terms, the transformation of a protolith may be physical or chemical. Importantly, both forms of transformation require great heat and pressure.

You can read on the functions of the atmosphere here.


Contact metamorphism results when great heat and pressure from inside the earth slightly melts a rock. It is important to state that the process of metamorphism does not melt the parent rocks, rather it changes them into more compact and denser rocks. Below are the processes that results into metamorphism:

  • There is magma intrusions and high tectonic movements from earth's movements, which consequently causes movement and shifting of the pre-existing igneous rocks.

  • Resulting from earth's tectonic movements is an influx of heat and high pressure from the rocks inside the earth (earth crust). This brings about changes in the rock's mineralogy, chemical composition, and texture.

  • The heat energy ranges between 150oC and 795oC. This degree of heat may be sufficient to break and reform the rock's chemical composition. Meanwhile, recall that this heat is a result of magma and friction heating along the fault lines.

  • Pressure coming from the overlying rocks further increases the transformation process.

  • The rearrangement of fluids and mineral components creates new minerals within the rock. However, the rocks does not melt, rather the grouping of minerals rearrange the elements in line with the original minerals thus forming new mineral compositions.

  • The newly formed minerals become steady at the new temperature and pressure.

  • The chemical composition and texture changes result from an extreme temperature gradients in melted magma and the surrounding rocks.

  • The aforementioned changes transform the crystal composition of the rock alongside its size.

You can read on the solar system here.


After all the above processes had occur, the original rocks becomes transformed into metamorphic rocks. In this regard, the following points are noteworthy:

  • Contact or thermal metamorphic rocks are produced as a result of intrusions and direct lava or magma heating.

  • Regional metamorphic rocks are produced from high-temperature changes and distributed pressure prompted by tectonic movements.

Please read on physical and environmental geography here.


Although most metamorphic rocks are formed deep within the earth's crust, some may become exposed on earth's surface due to erosion of the rock and soil, alongside the geologic uplift above them.

Meanwhile, when metamorphic rocks are exposed to the surface of the earth, the process of weathering breaks them down into sediments. Compression of the sediment results into the formation of sedimentary rocks.

Kindly share this article via the links below:


len


Please click here to contact Alfred if you require any of the following services:

  • Online training on how to understand and successfully trade the forex market.

  • If you need a standard website at an affordable price.

  • Online training on the academic subjects: biology, chemistry and basic science.

  • If you require an advanced smart school management system (web application) for your school.

Click here to read on Len Academy Smart School Software.


Please click here to follow Len Academy on Google News.


Please Register here or Login here to contribute to this topic by commenting in the box below.


Amazing facts in Geography

Lake Baikal - Len Academy

Lake Baikal is the deepest freshwater lake in the world. It is located in Siberia, and has a depth of 5,315 feet (1,620 meters)

River Nile is the world's longest river, reaching a length of 6,853km. It runs through the borders of 11 African countries. These are Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Eritrea

The deepest place on Earth is the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. It has a dept of 11,034 meters (or 36,201 feet)

Japan has recorded the most earthquakes and is thereby considered as the world's most earthquake-prone country

The planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune have no solid surfaces, but are rather made up of gases. For this reason, humans can never stand on them

Burg Khalifa - Len Academy

Burg Khalifa is the tallest building in the world (as at 2023). It is situated in Dubai and stands at over 2,700 feet

Pepto Bismol-colored Lake Hillier is a pink colored lake present in Australia

Pepto Bismol-colored Lake Hillier - Len Academy

Mount Everest is the highest point on earth with a height of 8,849 meters (29,032 feet). It is located between Nepal and Tibet, an autonomous region of China.

Mountain Everest is a symbol of relationship between Nepal and Tibet, and was named in the nineteenth century after George Everest, a former Surveyor General of India

A day on planet venus is longer than a year. This is so because it takes venus 243 'earth days' to spin round its axis (rotation), but takes 225 'earth days' to go around the sun (revolution).

In geography, understand that a day is reached when the planet makes a full spin or rotation round it's axis. However, a year is reached when a planet revolves fully around the sun

The Four Corners is a location in the United States of Ameria where one can stand in four states simultaneously (at the same time). The states are: Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico.

On the Four Corners, a person stands on the southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona, and northwestern corner of New Mexico at once.


Notable points in Geography

Planets can be categorized based on their composition. These include:

1. Terrestrial or Rocky Planets: They are mercury, venus, earth and mars. They are called terrestrial or rocky planets for the following reasons:

  • They have a rocky and compact surface.

  • They have no rings around them.

  • They have a few natural satellites.

  • They rotate slowly around their axis.

 

2. Gas or Jovian Planets: They include jupiter, saturn, uranus and neptune. They have the following features:

  • They are called jovian planets because they are bigger in size when compared to earth.

  • They are composed mainly of hydrogen and helium gas, hence the name 'gas planets' or 'gas giants'.

  • They rotate rapidly.

  • They have many satellites.

  • They have rings around them.

Please read more on the classification of planets here.

Planets of the Solar System - Len Academy

The following rules are required for a body to become classified (or regarded) as a planet:

  • It must orbit the sun.

  • It does not orbit another planet. This means that it must not be a satellite.

  • It must have sufficient mass which accounts for its self-gravity.

  • It must assume a nearly round shape.

Please read on the planets of the solar system here.

Earth's atmosphere is extremely important for the survival of all its inhabitants. As a student, it is important you comprehend how the above functions of the atmosphere support life. The explanations below give credence to this fact.

When one moves further away from earth, the atmosphere becomes thinner until it disappears into the outer space. There is no atmosphere in space. For this reason, astronauts will always wear a spacesuit while carrying along their oxygen gas masks and canisters when in space.

People living on very high altitudes will likely experience a reduced amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. Such people survive because their bodily organs become adapted to survive in such conditions.

On mountain everest for instance, mountain climbers will need to carry oxygen canisters because lesser amount of oxygen is present on this mountain.

Please read more on the functions of the atmosphere here

The interface forming the boundary between two atmospheric layers are always named with a 'pause' at its end; for instance;

  • Tropopause: This is the interface or boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere.

  • Stratopause: Interface between the stratosphere and mesosphere.

  • Mesopause: Interface between the mesosphere and ionosphere.

  • Ionopause: Interface between the ionosphere and thermosphere.

The atmosphere surrounding the earth is layered. Each layer has its own characteristics although the boundaries between them are not clearly defined.

The image below shows the different layers of the atmosphere:

Layers of the Atmosphere - Len Academy

Please read more on the layers of the atmosphere here.