Metamorphic rocks are created when heat and pressure changes rocks. Metamorphic means change of form. The texture and looks of the rock can be changed over time. Sedimentary rocks and igneous rocks can turn into metamorphic rock. Sometimes metamorphic rocks can turn into different kinds of metamorphic rocks, such as slate. This all happens deep underground because of the internal heat of the earth. Metamorphic rocks can sometimes have swirls of colors, patterns, and stripes.
The Black Canyons are located in Gunnison,Western Colorado. The Black Canyons are mostly metamorphic rock. The time of metamorphism is believed to be at about 1.7 to 1.9 billion years ago.The Black Canyons are 2,000 feet straight down. The canyons are more than 500 million years old. They were carved by the Colorado River. Inside the canyon there are multiple hidden gems. The entire canyon is 48 miles( 77 km) long. The size of the park is about 30,750 acres.
The canyon is so narrow that only in midday, the sunlight penetrates on the bottom of the canyon. The metamorphic rocks at the bottom of the canyon are nearly 2 billion years old. There is little trace of the original rock in the black canyons. However geologists suspect that the original rocks were sands, mud and volcanic debris that accumulated on the ocean floor.
Sources
Websites:
Geology.com, 2005, retrieved from: http://geology.com/landslides.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8
Ohranger.com, 2008-2013, Retrieved from: http://www.ohranger.com/black-canyon-gunnison/geology
Books:
Kittinger, Jo S., “A Look at Rocks, Scholastic Inc., 1997
Discovery kids, The Ultimate Earth Encyclopedia, Parragon Books Ltd ., 2014
The Black Canyons are located in Gunnison,Western Colorado. The Black Canyons are mostly metamorphic rock. The time of metamorphism is believed to be at about 1.7 to 1.9 billion years ago.The Black Canyons are 2,000 feet straight down. The canyons are more than 500 million years old. They were carved by the Colorado River. Inside the canyon there are multiple hidden gems. The entire canyon is 48 miles( 77 km) long. The size of the park is about 30,750 acres.
The canyon is so narrow that only in midday, the sunlight penetrates on the bottom of the canyon. The metamorphic rocks at the bottom of the canyon are nearly 2 billion years old. There is little trace of the original rock in the black canyons. However geologists suspect that the original rocks were sands, mud and volcanic debris that accumulated on the ocean floor.
Sources
Websites:
Geology.com, 2005, retrieved from: http://geology.com/landslides.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8
Ohranger.com, 2008-2013, Retrieved from: http://www.ohranger.com/black-canyon-gunnison/geology
Books:
Kittinger, Jo S., “A Look at Rocks, Scholastic Inc., 1997
Discovery kids, The Ultimate Earth Encyclopedia, Parragon Books Ltd ., 2014