| The shaded area in the bedrock map to
the right (ESRT page 3) shows a large area of regional
metamorphism in New York State. Most of this region is comprised of
the Adirondack and the Taconic Mountains. The Adirondacks were
formed about a billion years ago as heat and
pressure created the metamorphic rock found in the region today.
The Taconic mountains formed as a result of tectonic events during
the Ordovician period (page 9 ESRT 'Important Geologic Events in NYS'). Large area = regional metamorphism = heat and pressure. Hint: When a regents question asks about metamorphic rock in New York State you should immediately think of the Adirondack Mountains. Know where they are!
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| The two illustrations on
the right are from NYS regents exam. The red-shaded areas are
igneous rock which intruded into the surrounding rock as molten
magma. Because it was so hot, thousands of degrees, it changed
the rock it contacted (highlighted in yellow). This is contact
metamorphism and is the result of heat alone (no pressure).
Also notice that the zone of contact metamorphism is quite small
compared to the vast areas of the Adirondacks. Small area = contact metamorphism = heat alone (no pressure). |
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