A Pictorial Guide to Metamorphic Rocks in the Field

About this book

Metamorphic Rocks in the Field is an illustrative introduction to metamorphic rocks as seen in the field, designed for advanced high school to graduate-level earth science and geology students to jump-start their observational skills. In addition to photographs of rocks in the field, there are numerous line diagrams and examples of metamorphic features shown in thin section. The thin section photos are all at a scale and in a context that can be related to views seen in the field through a hand lens.

In many respects learning about metamorphic rocks can be more difficult than for igneous and sedimentary rocks. First, metamorphic rocks form from igneous and sedimentary rocks, so they start with all of those complex chemical, mineralogical, and structural characteristics. Metamorphism then imposes new characteristics, commonly changing rock shape, mineralogy, grain size, and chemical composition. Metamorphic rocks therefore hold clues to the metamorphic processes, and to the preceding igneous and sedimentary starting materials. Learning to read the metamorphic rock record can take years of practice. Metamorphic Rocks in the Field is designed to move the process along more smoothly and swiftly.

Contents

Preface
Acknowledgements

A matter of scale
1. Introduction
a. The basics
b. Temperature, pressure, and metamorphic grade
c. Movement of rocks through P-T space
d. Preserving the prograde assemblage
e. Metamorphic field gradient
f. Rock strain: foliation, cleavage, and lineation
g. Chemical flux
h. Recrystallization
i. Summary and introduction to the following chapters

Metamorphic rock types
2. Pelitic rocks
3. Quartzites
4. Marbles
5. Calc-silicate rocks
6. Mixed sedimentary rocks
7. Conglomerates
8. Gneisses
9. Basaltic rocks, low and intermediate pressure
10. Blueschists
11. Eclogite
12. Ultramafic rocks
13. Contact metamorphic rocks
14. Fault rocks

Metamorphic features
15. Foliation
16. Folds
17. Porphyroblasts
18. Boudins
19. Veins
20. Metasomatism
21. Partial melting
22. Retrograde metamorphism

Relict pre-metamorphic features
23. Relict sedimentary features
24. Fossils in metamorphic rocks
25. Relict igneous features

Glossary of terms
Glossary of rock types
Glossary of minerals

Customer Reviews