Science Common Sense
1803 - What does the transformation of rocks into metamorphic rocks depend on and what are their resulting appearances?
The transformation of rocks into metamorphic rocks depends on two main things: heat and pressure. When rocks are exposed to high heat and pressure, their minerals can change and the rock's texture and appearance can change too.
This process can make rocks:
- Harder
- More dense
- Change color
- Create new patterns like stripes or swirls (marble)
- Become shiny (gneiss, slate)
- Even form glittering minerals like quartz crystals
Examples of metamorphic rocks include marble (from limestone), slate (from shale), and quartzite (from sandstone).