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Research draft

metamorphism

vr.tr.metamorphism · ACT.PRC

Let an agent explain metamorphism and its kinds, describe how metamorphic rocks are recognised and classified by grade and facies, relay standard references, and separate metamorphism from weathering, diagenesis and melting.

Thing Registry Activities and processes

Research draft, second pass

A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.

written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify

Researched by: Claude

Purpose and description

Let an agent explain metamorphism and its kinds, describe how metamorphic rocks are recognised and classified by grade and facies, relay standard references, and separate metamorphism from weathering, diagenesis and melting.

The change of a rock in the solid state through heat, pressure and chemically active fluids, without melting, producing new minerals and textures; metamorphism occurs regionally in mountain belts, around igneous intrusions, along faults and at meteorite impacts, and turns shale into slate and schist, limestone into marble and sandstone into quartzite.

What it is for: Not for anything; a geological process.

It can be explain the process and its agents; describe kinds and settings; explain grade, facies and index minerals; distinguish from diagenesis and melting.

Distinguishing features

Solid-state recrystallisation

Controlled by temperature, pressure and fluids

Graded by facies and index minerals

Records tectonic history

What it looks like

Not visible as a process; seen in foliated or crystalline rocks such as slate, schist, gneiss and marble.

Physical character

temperature range: about 150-850 degrees C - below melting

pressure range: up to several GPa - in deep and ultrahigh-pressure settings

How it is recognised

Solid-state change of rock by heat, pressure and fluids

Regional, contact, dynamic and shock settings

Diagenesis is lower temperature; melting produces igneous rock

Related models

is a kind of - rock transformation

geological process

produces - the result

metamorphic rock

is related to - regional setting

orogeny

is contrasted with - lower temperature changes

diagenesis

In practice

Families and kinds

regional metamorphism

contact metamorphism

dynamic or fault metamorphism

shock metamorphism at impacts

burial and hydrothermal metamorphism

retrograde metamorphism

coal rank change as a related process

Standards and regulation

IUGS recommendations on metamorphic rock nomenclature

Geological survey mapping standards

Failure modes and hazards

Confusing metamorphism with weathering or melting

Misreading textures

Outdated facies boundaries

Also called

retrograde metamorphismshock metamorphismregional metamorphismcontact metamorphismpyrometamorphismcoal metamorphismrecrystallization

Where this came from

wikidata · CC0 1.0

Also registered as vr.tr.metamorphism

Drafted structure

Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.

Process How metamorphism works.

Process.

Agents

Heat, pressure, fluids.

Agents

Agents.

  1. How do temperature, pressure and fluids change rocks in the solid state? definition
  2. Is the process metamorphism, diagenesis, weathering or melting? boundary

Kinds

Kinds and settings.

Kinds

Kinds.

  1. What kinds of metamorphism occur in which tectonic settings? definition
  2. Which entry fits the specific kind? action
Classify Grade and facies.

Classification.

Facies

Facies and index minerals.

Facies

Facies.

  1. What are metamorphic facies and index minerals, and how do they indicate conditions? definition
  2. Which entry fits metamorphic facies? action

Rocks

Metamorphic rocks.

Rocks

Rocks.

  1. How are metamorphic rocks named and recognised? provenance
  2. Which entry fits a specific rock? action
Measure Conditions and dating.

Method.

Conditions

Thermobarometry.

Conditions

Conditions.

  1. How are pressures and temperatures of metamorphism estimated? measurement
  2. Which methods are standard? provenance

Dating

Dating.

Dating

Dating.

  1. How are metamorphic events dated? measurement
  2. Which entry fits geochronology? action
Context Tectonics and teaching.

Context.

Tectonics

Tectonic meaning.

Tectonics

Tectonics.

  1. What does metamorphism reveal about mountain building and plate tectonics? provenance
  2. Which entry fits orogeny? action

Teach

Teaching.

Teach

Teaching.

  1. How is metamorphism taught, and which references are standard? provenance
  2. Which misconceptions arise? provenance

What the second pass must settle

  • Should each kind be a separate entry?
  • How should nomenclature references be linked?
  • The registry entry has merged aliases for kinds and coal rank; should they be split off?