Epizone

The epizone ( Greek : ἐπι- (epi-) "on-, on-, after, add-" and ζώνη (zōnē) "belt") is an outdated term in geology and petrology for a facies of rock metamorphosis .

It covers the area of regional metamorphosis with temperatures between 100 and 300 ° C as well as low pressures on all sides and is the lowest level of rock transformation. The term is still used today in those cases in which no more precise statements can be made about the educational conditions.

The new formation of the following minerals is characteristic of the epizone, which can be formed depending on the original rock due to the pressure and temperature conditions:

• Serious
• Albite
• Chlorite

The rocks of the Epizone include phyllite and slate . Depending on the original rock , such as conglomerates or sandstones , the effects of the epizonal metamorphosis are barely noticeable with the naked eye.

The stage of metamorphosis achieved in a rock is described today with the metamorphic facies developed by Pentti Eskola . In this facies, the appearance of characteristic minerals reflects a narrowly limited pressure and temperature range. The individual steps are the zeolite - prehnite - Pumpellyite - Blauschiefer - greenschist - amphibolite - granulite - and eclogite -Fazies. The epizone roughly corresponds to the zeolite and prehnite pumpellyite facies.

See also

• Mesozone
• Katazone

Individual evidence

1. ^ Hans Murawski, Wilhelm Meyer: Geological dictionary . 11th edition. Elsevier / Spektrum, Heidelberg 2004, ISBN 3-8274-1445-8 , pp. 262 .
2. ↑ ^{a b} Metamorphites. ( Memento of the original from September 17, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Rock science at RWTH Aachen  
3. ^ Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks. ( Memento of the original from June 22, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. University of Alabama, Department of Geological Sciences (English)