foliated rocks are arranged in parallel layers, or bands. Unfoliated rocks are not banded and are not put into parallel layers.
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Foliated metamorphic rocks have a layered or banded appearance due to the alignment of mineral grains, while unfoliated metamorphic rocks do not have a layered structure. Foliated rocks form under directed pressure, while unfoliated rocks form under non-directed pressure. Examples of foliated rocks include schist and gneiss, while examples of unfoliated rocks include marble and quartzite.
Foliated rocks have a layered or banded appearance due to the alignment of minerals, such as in the case of schist or gneiss. Non-foliated rocks lack this layered structure and often have a more uniform texture, like in the case of marble or quartzite.
Phyllite is a foliated metamorphic rock that is texturally intermediate between slate and schist. It exhibits a greater degree of metamorphism than slate but not as much as schist, resulting in a medium-grain texture with a glossy sheen.
Schist is a metamorphic rock with medium to coarse grain size that typically forms from the metamorphism of shale or mudstone. Marble is a metamorphic rock primarily composed of calcite or dolomite minerals that forms from the metamorphism of limestone. Schist has a foliated texture, while marble has a non-foliated texture.
Metamorphic rocks are classified into two main types: foliated and non-foliated. Foliated rocks, like slate and schist, have distinct layers or bands due to the alignment of minerals during formation. Non-foliated rocks, such as marble and quartzite, lack this layering and have a more uniform appearance. The differences between these types of metamorphic rocks lie in their mineral composition, texture, and the conditions under which they were formed.
Foliated rocks: gneiss, schist, slate - These rocks have a layered or banded appearance due to the alignment of minerals caused by pressure during metamorphism. Nonfoliated rocks: marble, quartzite, hornfels - These rocks do not have a layered structure and exhibit more isotropic mineral alignment. The difference lies in the presence (foliated) or absence (nonfoliated) of layers or banding caused by differential pressure during metamorphism.