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Earth and Life Science

Learning Activity Sheets
Quarter 1 – Week 3B: Rock Metamorphism

First Edition, 2021

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Development Team of the Learners Activity Sheets

Writer: Elma Joy O. Jopia
Editors : Kevin Hope Z. Salvaňa
Relyn D. Raza
Abraham L. Masendo
Marilyn Villareal
Jennyvi H. Papellero
Tamarah Harel M. Consigna
Rainer P. Sularte
Lay-out Reviewer: Relyn D. Raza
Tamarah Harel M. Consigna
Rainer P. Sularte
Management Team: Minerva T. Albis, Ph.D., Schools Division Superintendent
Dr. Hector De N. Macalalag, Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Lorna P. Gayol, CID Chief
Lelani R. Abutay. LR Manager
Abraham L. Masendo, Science Education Program Supervisor
Kevin Hope Z. Salvaňa, Regional Science Coordinator

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 1
 WEEKLY LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS
Earth and Life Sciences, Quarter 1, Week 3B

ROCK METAMORPHISM

Name: __________________________________________Grade Level/Section:

Most Essential Learning Competency:

Describe the changes in mineral components and texture of rocks due to changes
in pressure and temperature (metamorphism). (S11/12ES-Ic-17)

Specific Objectives:
After going through this learning activity sheets, you are expected to:
1. describe metamorphic rocks and the factors that control their
characteristics;
2. describe metamorphism in terms of its principal agents and processes; and
3. recognize the value of metamorphism in history.

Time Allotment: 2 hours

Key Concepts
Metamorphic Rocks
-come from the Greek word which means “to change form”)
-is the hardest type of rock and mostly found in mountainous regions
Metamorphic rocks are characterized by controlling factors such as;
A. Protolith (parent rock) Composition
1. Mafic protoliths- (basalt, diabase, and gabbro) yield a dark charcoal gray mafic
metamorphic rock called amphibolite
2. Felsic protoliths- (granite, rhyolite, mudstone, sandstone, conglomerate, breccia)
yield light colored tan, silver, light to medium gray, etc. felsic metamorphic rocks
B. Pressure (stress)
1. Increasing pressure flattens grains, crushes grains (reduces size), causes
shearing
2. Confining pressure, associated with depth of burial, is equal in all directions
3. Differential pressure in not equal to all directions
3.1. Produces foliation (parallel alignment of grains)
Types of foliation
3.1.1 Slaty cleavage – alignment of small mica flakes
3.1.2 Schistosity- alignment of large mica flakes
3.1.3 Gneissic Banding- segregation of felsic and mafic minerals into
alternating lights and dark bands
C. Temperature
Increasing temperature cause increased movement in ions which in turn causes
mineral grains to grow larger and minerals to crystallize.
D. Time
Metamorphic reactions and textural changes require millions of years to occur.

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 2
 Figure 1.A-Confining Pressure and Figure 2.Differential Pressure
B-Differential stress

Figure 3.Types of Foliation: A. Formation of Slathy Cleavage

B. Development of Schistosity, C. Formation of Gneissic Banding
Source “Lutgen, et.al. (2012) cited from https:mmb.upnyk.ac.i

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 3
 Pressure changes can be Fluids carrying dissolves
Temperature changes
caused by the collision of the ion may flow from one
when a magmatic body spot (blue dot) to another
intrudes the shallow two plates where mineral at
low pressure (blue dot) are spot (red dot) causing the
crust and causes minerals along to
dragged to high pressure
recrystallization (red dot) in subducting plate recrystallize as they
around the intrusion. equilibrate with the fluid.

Figure 4. Metamorphic changes can occur as the result of the changes in

temperature, pressure and in the composition of pore fluids as the rocks attempt to
reach equilibrium with the new conditions.
Source “Lutgen, et.al. (2012) cited from https:mmb.upnyk.ac.i

METAMORPHISM
 comes from the Greek words “meta” meaning change and “morph” meaning form,
so it literally means to change form
 has three types namely;
1. Contact Metamorphism- occurs when a body of rock is intruded by
magma
2. Regional Metamorphism- is the alteration of rock both thermal and
mechanical means over a whole region
3. Dynamic Metamorphism- occurs along earthquake fault zones
 causes a change in rocks related with
1. Mineral Composition which is influenced by
 mineral composition of the original or parent rock
 composition of the fluid that is present
 amount of pressure and temperature during metamorphism
2. Mineral assemblage which is controlled by
 bulk composition of the original rock
 attained pressure during metamorphism
 attained temperature during metamorphism
 composition of fluid phase that was present during metamorphism

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 4
 3. Texture
 In general, the grain size of metamorphic rocks tends to increase with
increasing metamorphic grade. With the increasing metamorphic
grade, the sheet silicates become unstable and mafic minerals, such
as hornblende and pyroxene, start to grow. At the highest grades of
metamorphism, all of the hydrous minerals and sheet silicate become
unstable and thus there are few minerals present that would show
preferred orientation. This is because the fluids from these hydrous
minerals are expelled out due to the high temperature and pressure.
 Most metamorphic textures involve foliation, which is generally
caused by a preferred orientation of sheet silicates (silica minerals
with sheet-like structures), such as clay minerals, mica and chlorite.
Slate, phyllite, schist, and gneiss are foliated rocks, are texturally
distinguished from each other by the degree of foliation. Hornfels and
granulite are examples of non-foliated metamorphic rocks. In
hornfels, the individual mineral grains are too small, whereas in
granulites, the grains are large enough to be identified in hand
specimens (visible without the use of microscopes) (Nelson, 2011).

 its principal agents are

 Change in temperature
 Change in pressure
 Change in temperature and pressure

Metamorphic Process: The Mechanism of Metamorphism

Source: https://csmgeo.csm.jmu.edu/geollab/fichter/metarx/mechanism.html

 The changes in a rock that include metamorphism begin with digenesis

(conversion of loose sediment into a rock) pass through the mineral and
textural changes of metamorphism, and end with the melting of the rock.
 Metamorphism is a two-way street. Prograde metamorphism begins with
cold, fluid (water) rich rocks and proceeds to hot and dry rocks. But, if the

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 5
 temperature and pressure decline then the rock undergoes retrograde
metamorphism as the rocks and minerals adjust to the reduced
temperature and pressure
 Prograde and retrograde metamorphism is not balanced processes. Prograde
metamorphism takes place faster and produces more dramatic change
because of the presence of water in the rocks, retrograde metamorphism,
beginning with a dry rock, is slower and does not produce dramatic change.

Two Main Mechanisms of Metamorphism

 HEAT
There are two sources of heat; (1) geothermal gradient- the increase in the
temperature that occurs with increase in depth in the earth, approximately 1 degree
C for every 30 meters of depth; (2) intrusive bodies of magma, such as Batholiths;
as these bodies cools they release heat to the surrounding country rock, leading to
metamorphism.
 PRESSURE
The higher the pressure, i.e. the deeper the rock is, the more temperature it takes
to melt. Conversely, a very deep, hot rock brought to the surface quickly will melt
very quickly because of the decrease in pressure.
The sum total of metamorphic processes:
1. New mineral compositions, some typical to igneous rocks and some unique
to metamorphic rocks
2. New textures unique to metamorphic rocks

Agents of Metamorphism Metamorphic Processes

High temperature -Minerals convert to new high temperature minerals
-Fluids are released (e.g. clay = mica + H2O)
-Crystals grow larger
-Rocks become weaker and easier to deform
High Pressure -Minerals may recrystallize into more compact/stable forms
-Platy or elongate minerals may align in a preferred direction

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 6
Figure 5. Typical transition of mineral content resulting from the metamorphism of shale
Source:Tarbuck and Lutgens, 2008
 Is a representation of the progressive metamorphism of shale. It is not
necessarily applicable to all types of parent rocks. Pelitic rocks (e.g. shale) more
faithfully preserve the effects of increasing grade of metamorphism.
 Some rocks, however, such as pure quartz sandstone or limestone, provide very
little clue as to the intensity of metamorphism (Monroe et al., 2007).
 Shale can be transformed into a series of metamorphic rocks (slate, phyllite,
schist, and gneiss, respectively) with increasing temperature and pressure
conditions. Shale can also be transformed directly into schist or even gneiss if
the change in metamorphic conditions is
drastic.

Figure 8.Environments of metamorphism in

the context of plate tectonics (a) regional
Figure 7.Metamorphic facies and types metamorphism related to mountain building
of metamorphism shown in the context at a continent-continent convergent
of depth and temperature. boundary (b) seafloor metamorphism of
oceanic crust in the area on either side of a
spreading ridge (c) metamorphism of oceanic
crustal rocks within the subduction zone, (d)
contact metamorphism adjacent to a magma
body at a high level in the crust (e) regional
Source: Panchuk,K.(2018)CC BY 4.modified
after steven earle (2006) CC BY 4.0 metamorphism related to mountain building
at a convergent boundary
Classification of Metamorphic Rocks
1. Regional Metamorphic Rocks
-Form in response to increased temperature and directed pressure along
plate boundaries
-FOLIATED (composed of large amounts of micas and chlorites, minerals
that have distinct cleavage)
-Sheared by pure shear or simple shear
2. Local (Contact Metamorphic Rocks)
-Form in response to contact with magma at high temperature and/or high
confining pressure
- Found adjacent to igneous intrusions
-Are usually UNFOLIATED (have no cleavage at all)

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 7
Some common examples of metamorphic rocks

Source: Alfonso, V,, Dizon, EA,Jr., Zoraida S.,Listanco, E., Abon, C,.Earth Science teaching guide for
senior high school, Commision on Higher Education,2016,Quezon City,Philippines

Activity 1: “Chart Me Out”

Objective: Describe metamorphic rocks and the factors that control their
characteristics.
What you need: pen and paper
What to do: Fill in the blank space to complete the chart

METAMORPHIC ROCKS

-----------------------------------
(Brief description)

REGIONAL
METAMORPHISM
Brief Description Brief Description
-----------------------------------
----------------------------------- -----------------------------------
limestone marble shale

phyllite

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 8
Guide Question: Differentiate metamorphic rocks produced by contact
metamorphism and regional metamorphism.

Activity 2: “Tell Me”

Objective: Describe metamorphism in terms of its principal agents and processes.
What you need: white egg, Petri dish, beaker (glass), salt
What to do: Follow the steps in performing the activity and complete the
statements below by choosing the correct term from the given choices.
Reminder: Please be careful in handling boiling water
Steps:
1. Place the white of an egg in a petri dish (small basin)
2. Add approximately 50mL of water to the beaker and 2 spatula (or tsp) of
salt to the water (to increase the boiling point) and bring the water to a
boil on the hot plate (or subject to heat).
3. Turn off the heat and carefully remove the beaker from the heat, placing
it in the center of the egg white in the petri dish/small basin as shown in
the figure below

4. Leave for 5-8 minutes and record observation.

Statements:
1. The thin layer of egg white in contact with the beaker has “cooked” and
changed __________ (composition or texture).
2. The beaker of water represents an/a ____________ (igneous intrusion or
sedimentary intrusion).
3. The unchanged egg white models the ______________ (country rock,
metamorphic rock)
4. The igneous intrusion is always ______________ (hotter, cooler) than the
country rock.
5. The simulation/activity explains how _______________ (contact
metamorphism or regional metamorphism) with extreme heat can alter the
texture of existing rock.

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 9
Reflection:
Caraga Region occupies the northernmost portion of the Eastern Mindanao
Ridge or Mindanao Pacific Cordillera (MPC). The geologic evolution of MPC was
largely controlled by convergent and transcurrent tectonics intermittently active
during Upper Cretaceous to Pleistocene times. These complex tectonic processes
brought the juxtaposition of older metamorphic basement rocks with ophiolite suite
of rocks later superposed by younger multiple stage island arc volcano sedimentary
sequences. As time passes by, composition of rocks evolved due to soil erosion and
other causing factors. As a student what actions can you suggest or recommend for
us to adhere what John Watson said “The layers of the rocks are the pages in our
history book”. You may present your answer in creative way, e.g. using infographic,
slogan, poster, 4-line poem, essay, 4-line song or any presentation at your
preference.

Rubric
5- Ideas expressed scientifically consistent with the concepts and has no
misconception.
4- Ideas expressed scientifically consistent with the concepts but with minimal
misconception
3- Ideas expressed scientifically but contain several misconceptions
2- Ideas are poorly expressed scientifically
1- Ideas are vague and not precise
0-No discussion
(Note: Score has to be multiplied by two)

Answer Key

Reference for Learners:

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 10
Alfonso, V,, Dizon, EA,Jr., Zoraida S.,Listanco, E., Abon, C,.Earth Science teaching
guide for senior high school, Commision on Higher Education,2016,Quezon
City,Philippines
Tarbuck,E.J., & Lutgens,F.K. (2008).Earth: An introduction to physical
geology(9thed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Web Sources
“Metamorphic Mechanism.Accessed June 22, 2021.Retrieved from
https://csmgeo.csm.jmu.edu/geollab/fichter/metarx/mechanism.html

Image Sources

Figure1.“A-Confining Pressure and B. Differential stress”. Accessed23,2021.

Retrived from Lutgens,et.al (2012) cited from
https:mmb.upnyk.ac.id>pdffile

Figure 2.“Differential Pressure”.Accessed June 23,2021.Retrived from

Lutgens,et.al(2012) cited from https:mmb.upnyk.ac.id>pdffile

Figure 3.“Types of foliation: A. Formation of Slathy Cleavage B. Development of

Schistosity, C. Formation of Gneissic Banding”. Retrived from
https:mmb.upnyk.ac.id>pdffile

Figure 4.“Metamorphic changes can occur as the result of the changes in

temperature, pressure and in the composition of pore fluids as the rocks
attempts to reach equilibrium with the new conditions” Retrived from
https:mmb.upnyk.ac.id>pdffile

Figure 5.“Typical transition of mineral content resulting from the metamorphism of

shale”.Retrived from (2012) cited from https:mmb.upnyk.ac.id>pdffile

Figure 6.“Metamorphic facies and types of metamorphism shown in the conext of

depth and temperature”.Panchuk,K.(2018)CC BY 4.modified after steven
earle (2006) CC BY 4.0

Figure 7.“Environments of metamorphism in the context of plate

tectonics”.Retrieved from Panchuk,K.(2018)CC BY 4.modified after steven
earle (2006) CC BY 4.0

Figure 8.“Common Metamorphic Rocks”.Retrieved from

https://csmgeo.csm.jmu.edu/geollab/fichter/metarx/mechanism.html

Author: Elma Joy O. Jopia

School: Sta.Fe National High School
Division: Agusan del Sur
Email add: elmajoy.jopia@deped.gov.ph Page 11