Metamorphic Rock Identification

Metamorphic rocks are classified according to....................

1) Texture: Are they foliated or nonfoliated? Do they show banding or mineral alignment?
2) Grain size: Are they made of fine, medium, or coarse particles?
3) Mineral composition: Of what minerals are they made?
 

When taking the regents there are 2 things to keep in mind:

1) Look for the key words or phrases which tell you  'the answer is a metamorphic rock'. These are:

    > Banding (banding of minerals)
    > Foliation
    > Recrystalization
    > Alignment of minerals
    > Heat and/or pressure
    > Distortion of structure

If you see any of these terms in a question the answer is 'Metamorphic' or possibly you must choose the metamorphic rock from among other choices.

2) Recognize how the regents illustrates metamorphic rock:

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