Marble Metamorphic Rock Grade

Metamorphic rock can be marble because marble is a form of metamorphic rock which is composed of coarse crystals from parent limestone or dolostone rocks.

Marble metamorphic rock grade.

Variable grade regional or contact metamorphism along a convergent. Marble is a metamorphic rock that forms when limestone is subjected to the heat and pressure of metamorphism. The various types of foliated metamorphic rocks listed in order of the grade or intensity of metamorphism and the type of foliation are slate phyllite schist and gneiss figure 7 8. Lapis lazuli the famous blue gem material is actually a metamorphic rock.

The specimen shown above is about two inches five centimeters across. Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock types in a process called metamorphism which means change in form. 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. It is composed primarily of calcium carbonate.

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. Metamorphic grade refers to the degree of heat and pressure needed to create a particular metamorphic rock out if its parent rock. But grain size is also dependent on the grain size of the protolith. 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.

Low grade metamorphic rocks tend to be fine grained the newly formed metamorphic mineral grains that is. High grade metamorphic rocks tend to be coarse grained. What is the metamorphic grade of marble.