TOPIC : IDENTIFICATION OF METAMORPHIC ROCK (LAB 1D)

1.0

OBJECTIVE
To recognize, identified and observed distinguishing features of metamorphic rock
specimen in the laboratory.

2.0

LEARNING OUTCOMES
a) Students should able to recognize types of metamorphic rock formation in Malaysia
and Worldwide.
b) Students should able to evaluate the physical properties of metamorphic rocks for
civil engineering application.
c) Students should able to understand metamorphic rock forming on the earth.

3.0

THEORY
(a) Criteria for distinguishing sedimentary rock
In describing any rock, one should proceed from the general to the particular,
nothing firstly its colour, behaviour on weathering and any other striking features and
then deciding whether it is metamorphic or other types of rock. The outstanding
characteristics of the metamorphic rocks is given below, but must be emphasized that
one characteristic by itself proof positive that the rock belongs to a certain class.

Rock Type

Characteristic
Parallel orientation of mineral crystals.

Metamorphic

Interlocking crystal.
Secondary cleavage independent bedding.
Foliation, schistosity and slaty texture.

(b) Description
Physical

Colour

characteristics
Decide whether the rock is best described as uniform fine grained,
Structure
and Grain

medium fine grained or coarse grained.

The coarser grained granular rocks results from high-grade
metamorphism in which great pressure from many directions, not from
one direction only, has been the dominant factor.

4.0

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

a) Metamorphic rock from reference set

b) Metamorphic classification chart (attached)

5.0

PROCEDURE

We was identified the metamorphic rock sample from reference set and observed the
samples by referring metamorphic classification charts. The observation results was
tabulated in the Table 1.2.4 attached.

6.0

RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

a) Rock name
b) Structure
c) Grain
d) Mineral composition
e) Parent Rock
f) Metamorphism type
g) Sketch / Others

7.0

QUESTION AND DISCUSSION

(1) What is foliation?
Foliation is represents a distinct plane of weakness in the rock. Foliation is caused
by the re-alignment of minerals when they are subjected to high pressure and
temperature. Individual minerals align themselves perpendicular to the stress field such
that their long axes are in the direction of these planes (which may look like the cleavage
planes of minerals). Usually, a series of foliation planes can be seen parallel to each other
in the rock. Well developed foliation is characteristic of most metamorphic rocks.
Metamorphic rocks often break easily along foliation planes.

(2) Distinguish between slaty cleavage, phyllitic, schistosity and gneissic texture.
Slaty Cleavage Textures This texture is a pervasive, parallel foliation (layering) of finegrained platy minerals (chlorite) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of maximum
stress. Produces the rocks slate and phyllite.
Phyllitic Textures This texture is made up mainly of very fine-grained mica. The
surface of phyllite is typically lustrous and sometimes wrinkled. It is intermediate in
grade between slate and schist.
Schistosity Textures This texture is the layering in a coarse grained, crystalline rock
due to the parallel arrangement of platy mineral grains such as muscovite and biotite.
Other minerals present are typically quartz and feldspar, plus a variety of other minerals
such as garnet, staurolite, kyanite, sillimanite. It often contains significant amounts of
mica which allow the rock to split into thin pieces. It is a rock of intermediate
metamorphic grade between phyllite and gneiss
Gneissic Textures This texture is the layering in a rock in which bands or lenses of
granular minerals (quartz and feldspar) alternate with bands or lenses in which platy
(mica) or elongate (amphibole) minerals predominate.

8.0

CONCLUSION
Metamorphic rocks have been modified by heat, pressure and chemical processes,
usually while buried deep below Earth's surface. Exposure to these extreme conditions
has altered the mineralogy, texture and chemical composition of the rocks.
From our observation, there are two basic types of metamorphic rocks. Foliated
metamorphic rocks such as gneiss, phyllite, schist, and slate have a layered or banded
appearance that is produced by exposure to heat and directed pressure. Non-foliated
metamorphic rocks such as hornfels, marble, quartzite, and novaculite do not have a
layered or banded appearance. In construction industry, the significance of metamorphic
rock such as some schists has graphite and use as building stones. Besides that, slate
used in pool tables and as roofing material.

TABLE 1.2.4

IDENTIFICATION OF METAMORPHIC ROCK

STRUCTURE

GRAIN

MINERAL
COMPOSITION

Gneiss 16

Gneissic

Medium
to
Coarse

Quartz,
Feldspar,
Minor,
Ferromagnesians

Marble 17

Granulose

Medium
to
Coarse

Quartzite

Granulose

Mica Schist

Schistose

ROCK NAME

Slate

Cleared

PARENT ROCK

METAMORPHISM
TYPE

Granite
Arkose,
Conglomerate

Regional

Calcite or
Dolomite greatly
dominant

Limestone

Contact or Regional

Medium to
Coarse

Quartz greatly
predominant

Quartz,
Sandstone

Regional

Medium to
Coarse

Micas,
Quartz,
Feldspar

Shale,
Mudstone or tuff

Clay minerals,
Detrital micas,
Chlorite

Shale,
Mudstone,
Tuff

Very fine

Increasing Regional

Dynamic

SKETCH

METAMORPHIC CLASSIFICATION CHART