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Metamorphic Rocks - Contact Metamorphism.
What is Contact Metamorphism?
The high
temperatures needed to form metamorphic rock may
come about by contact of an
existing rock with an igneous
intrusion.
An igneous
intrusion happens when magma is forced
through a crack in layers of rock in the Earth's
crust.
The rock intrusion which is seen
cutting across other rocks
must be younger (it has formed more recently).
Contact metamorphism is sometimes called baking.
How does Limestone become Marble?
Where the limestone has been in contact with hot magma the
high temperature has changed
the crystal structure
and limestone
has become marble
(shown in the above picture as darker
blue).
The magma has slowly
solidified to
become granite.
Links
Metamorphic
Rocks
Revision Questions
gcsescience.com The Periodic Table Index Rocks Quiz gcsescience.com
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