Marble Metamorphic Rock Grade

Metamorphic rocks form from pre existing rocks parent rocks due to changes in either temperature pressure or volatiles within the earth often by a combination of all three.

Marble metamorphic rock grade.

The original rock is subjected to heat temperatures greater than 150 to 200 c and pressure 100 megapascals 1 000 bar or more causing profound physical or chemical change the protolith may be a sedimentary igneous or existing metamorphic rock. Marble is a non foliated metamorphic rock that is produced from the metamorphism of limestone or dolostone. Variable grade regional or contact metamorphism along a convergent. Low grade metamorphic rocks tend to be fine grained the newly formed metamorphic mineral grains that is.

Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock types in a process called metamorphism which means change in form. Lapis lazuli the famous blue gem material is actually a metamorphic rock. The specimen shown above is about two inches five centimeters across. As already noted slate is formed from the low grade metamorphism of shale and has microscopic clay and mica crystals that have grown perpendicular to the stress.

But grain size is also dependent on the grain size of the protolith. Metamorphic grade refers to the degree of heat and pressure needed to create a particular metamorphic rock out if its parent rock. It is composed primarily of calcium carbonate. Volatiles are those chemical substances including water and carbon dioxide that easily turn into gas or fluid and are mobile enough to move in and out of solid rock.

What is the metamorphic grade of marble. It is composed primarily of the mineral calcite caco 3 and usually contains other minerals such as clay minerals micas quartz pyrite iron oxides and graphite. High grade metamorphic rocks tend to be coarse grained.