Metamorphic Rocks: A Guide To Formation, Types, And Properties
Metamorphic rocks result from the transformation of existing rocks under intense heat and pressure. Heat and pressure cause recrystallization, forming new minerals and altering the rock’s texture. Foliated metamorphic rocks, such as slate and gneiss, exhibit a layered or banded appearance due to mineral alignment under pressure. Non-foliated metamorphic rocks, like quartzite and marble, lack visible layers. Heat and pressure can convert sandstone into quartzite, limestone into marble, and shale into slate, creating distinct metamorphic rock types with varying characteristics based on their original composition.
