How do metamorphic rocks become foliated?

Answer 1

Foliation refers to the repeated layering of metamorphic rocks.

Each layer may be as thin as a sheet of paper but can also be up to a meter thick. The word "foliation" itself comes from the latin folium meaning leaf, expressing the planar like layering.

Foliation is caused by shearing, which are forces that push and pull sections of the rock in different directions. Foliation can also be caused by higher pressure from one area than the others. The layers of the rocks form parallel to the direction of the pushing and perpendicular the the pressure.

Foliation is common in rocks exposed to pressure in the Earth's crust, such as the formation of a new mountain belt.

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Answer 2

Benjamin Awad

Metamorphic rocks become foliated through the process of pressure and temperature acting on the minerals within the rock. This causes the minerals to reorient themselves perpendicular to the direction of pressure, resulting in the development of distinct layers or bands known as foliation. Foliation typically occurs in rocks subjected to directed pressure, such as during regional metamorphism, where tectonic forces compress the rock in one direction. As the minerals align perpendicular to the pressure, they form parallel layers, giving the rock a foliated texture. Examples of foliated metamorphic rocks include slate, schist, and gneiss.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.