✍️Activity 13A: Identifying Metamorphic Rocks

Identifying Metamorphic Rocks

For this section, you will need the following materials before you begin:

• Metamorphic rock samples (or kit) selected by your instructor. 
  • Use the Metamorphic Rock Image Index to order your samples to their corresponding sample numbers.
• Glass plate, streak plate, and a hand lens (or magnifying glass)
• Bottle of diluted HCl or white vinegar (optional)

For each sample, identify: 

1. Its metamorphic texture:

• Foliated
• Non-foliated

2. Whether grain size or composition is more important to identify the sample:

• Grain size
• Composition

3. What the metamorphic rock name of the sample is.

4. Whether the sample is an example of:

• high-grade metamorphism
• intermediate-grade metamorphism
• low-grade metamorphism

5. What a possible protolith for the sample could be.