regional metamorphism
regional metamorphism The recrystallization of pre-existing rocks in response to simultaneous changes of temperature, lithostatic pressure, and in many cases shear stress, occurring in orogenic belts where lithospheric plates are converging. The broad areas covered by orogenic belts cause the associated metamorphism to be developed on a regional scale, hence the name attached to this type of metamorphism. Regional metamorphism can be pre-, syn-, or post-tectonic, depending whether the metamorphic event (or events) is (or are) before, synchronous with, or after the orogenic deformation event (or events). Typical rock fabrics produced during regional metamorphism are, in order of increasing grain size (reflecting increasing metamorphic grade), slaty, phyllitic, schistose, and gneissose fabrics. Increase of metamorphic grade in regional terrains typically produces a prehnite–pumpellyite–greenschist–amphibolite–granulite facies series. However, each regional metamorphic terrain is characterized by a unique mineral zonal sequence reflecting a particular pressure—temperature gradient during metamorphism.
More From encyclopedia.com
Regionalism , Regionalism is the idea or practice of dividing a country into smaller units for political, economic, social, and cultural purposes. Politically, reg… Region , Region
A region is a homogeneous area with physical and cultural characteristics distinct from those of neighboring areas. As part of a national doma… Faunal Region , faunal region A region of the earth with a distinct and characteristic assemblage of animal taxa. There are six commonly recognized faunal regions us… Metamorphism , Metamorphism is the process by which the structure and mineral content of rocks transform in response to changes in temperature , pressure , fluid co… Palaearctic Faunal Region , Palaearctic faunal region The region that includes Europe, Asia north of the Himalayan–Tibetan physical barrier, N. Africa, and much of Arabia. Despi… Nearctic Faunal Region , Nearctic faunal region The fauna of North America, south to Mexico. At the order and family level the fauna is essentially the same as that of the Pa…
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
regional metamorphism