Metavolcanic rock

Metavolcanic rock is volcanic rock that shows signs of having experienced metamorphism. In other words, the rock was originally produced by a volcano, either as lava or tephra. The rock was then subjected to high pressure, high temperature or both, for example by burial under younger rocks, causing the original volcanic rock to recrystallize. Metavolcanic rocks are sometimes described informally as metavolcanics.

When it is possible to determine the original volcanic rock type from the properties of the metavolcanic rock (particularly if the degree of metamorphism is slight), the rock is more precisely named by appylying the prefix meta- to the original rock type. For example, a weakly metamorphosed basalt would be described as a metabasalt, or a weakly metamorphosed tuff as a metatuff.

Metavolcanic rock is commonly found in greenstone belts.

See also

• Metasedimentary rock – Metamorphic rock from a sedimentary precursor

References

1. List of rock types
2. Metamorphic rock
3. Metasedimentary rock
4. Blueschist
5. White Mountain Peak
6. Schist
7. Sierra Buttes
8. Vesper Peak
9. Grass Valley, California
10. Aravalli Range
11. Metavolcanic Mountain
12. Reedy Glacier
13. Volcanic rock
14. White Mountains (California)
15. Green Grove, Wisconsin
16. Jack Mountain
17. Peavine Peak
18. Cid Formation
19. Mount Doonerak
20. Crater Mountain