In class on Monday we discussed both regional and contact metamorphism. I understand where both types take place, but why is it that no direct pressure is needed for contact metamorphism? Why does this lack of pressure cause them to be unfoliated?

-- Sarah Szczech (szczech@oswego.edu), March 13, 2001

Answers

No pressure is needed for contact metamorphism because it is just the heat that is changing the rocks, foliation forms when pressure squeezes the minerals in to thin bands, but with contact metamorphism the is no extra pressures involved to no banding forms

-- AJ Spado (spado@oswego.edu), March 15, 2001.