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Did you know that "metamorphic" is Greek for "change of shape"? Metamorphic rocks are formed underground by heat and pressure. It takes time to make a metamorphic rock, too. The pressure and heat of earthquakes can cause rocks to twist or break up. Small amounts of heat can "cook" igneous or sedimentary rocks into metamorphic rocks over long periods of time. As rocks bake under the earth, they can change in color and shape. Sometimes rocks blend together in layers or chunks. Metamorphic rocks are closely related to many sedimentary rocks. The sedimentary rock shale becomes the metamorphic rocks slate or schist with some heat and time. Another sedimentary rock, limestone, becomes metamorphic marble.
Sources: Anderson, Alan, et. al. Geology
Crafts for Kids: 50 Nifty Projects to Explore the Marvels of
Planet Earth. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1996. Science and Technology for Children. Rocks and Minerals. Burlington, NC: Carolina Biological Supply Company, 1997. |