1. Education

Metamorphic Rock Types

Pictures of Metamorphic Rocks

By , About.com Guide

Metamorphic rocks are those that form by the effects of heat, pressure and shear upon igneous and sedimentary rocks. Some form during mountain-building by forces of regional metamorphism, others from the heat of igneous intrusions in contact metamorphism. A third category forms by the mechanical forces of fault movements: cataclasis and mylonitization.

This is just a starting point to explore the variety in metamorphic rocks.

Learn more:
Introducing Igneous Rocks
Introducing Sedimentary Rocks
Introducing Metamorphic Rocks

More picture galleries: Fossils | Geologic Features and Processes | Glaciers and Ice | Landforms | Minerals | Rocks | Geology and Society

Images 1-12 of 17

Usually a schistAmphiboliteNot always a blue schistBlueschistGround below the groundCataclasiteFrom very deep subductionEclogite
Makes up the lower crustGneissA facies more than a rock typeGreenschistAltered basaltGreenstoneThe main contact-metamorphic rockHornfels
Metamorphosed carbonatesMarbleHalf-melted gneissMigmatiteGround to a powderMyloniteShiny and leafyPhyllite

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.