Describe the geologic settings where thermal, dynamic, and dynamothermal metamorphism take place.

Short Answer

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Thermal metamorphism occurs in areas where hot magma intrudes into the Earth's crust, such as near intrusive igneous bodies like sills, dikes, laccoliths, and plutons. Dynamic metamorphism occurs in areas where high pressure and deformation are dominant, like fault zones and near subduction zones at low to intermediate depths. Dynamothermal metamorphism occurs in areas where both high pressure and high temperature are present, often at convergent plate boundaries and during mountain-building processes, resulting in the formation of metamorphic rocks like schist and gneiss.

Step by step solution

01

Define Thermal Metamorphism

Thermal metamorphism, also known as contact metamorphism, is a type of metamorphism that occurs when rocks are exposed to high temperatures without being subjected to high pressure or significant deformation. This usually happens when rocks come into contact with hot magma intruding into the Earth's crust.
02

Define Dynamic Metamorphism

Dynamic metamorphism is a type of metamorphism that occurs when rocks are subjected to high pressure and deformation, but not high temperatures. This process usually takes place at shallow depths within the Earth's crust, where the temperature remains relatively low.
03

Define Dynamothermal Metamorphism

Dynamothermal metamorphism, also known as regional metamorphism, is a type of metamorphism that occurs when rocks are subjected to both high pressure and high temperature over a large area. This process often takes place at convergent plate boundaries, where two tectonic plates collide or slide past each other, resulting in mountain building and the formation of metamorphic rocks.
04

Describe the Geologic Setting for Thermal Metamorphism

Thermal metamorphism typically occurs in areas where hot magma intrudes into the Earth's crust and comes into contact with pre-existing rocks. When the magma cools, it transfers its heat to the surrounding rocks, causing them to recrystallize and change their mineral composition. Common geologic settings for thermal metamorphism include areas near intrusive igneous bodies such as sills, dikes, laccoliths, and plutons.
05

Describe the Geologic Setting for Dynamic Metamorphism

Dynamic metamorphism occurs in areas where high pressure and deformation are the dominant factors affecting the mineralogical composition of rocks. Common geologic settings for dynamic metamorphism include fault zones and areas near subduction zones (where one tectonic plate slides under another) at low to intermediate depths. During this process, rocks can be fractured, sheared, or crushed, resulting in the formation of new minerals and textures.
06

Describe the Geologic Setting for Dynamothermal Metamorphism

Dynamothermal metamorphism occurs in areas where both high pressure and high temperature are present, often over a large geographic area. Common geologic settings for dynamothermal metamorphism include convergent plate boundaries (where two tectonic plates collide) and areas where continental crust is being thickened due to mountain-building processes. During this process, rocks recrystallize and change their mineralogical composition, forming new metamorphic rocks like schist and gneiss.

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