* Transform Boundaries: These boundaries are where tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. The movement isn't always smooth; there's often friction, creating immense heat and pressure.
* Metamorphism: This is the process of transforming existing rocks (igneous, sedimentary, or even other metamorphic rocks) into new types of rocks due to intense heat and pressure.
How it Works:
1. Friction: As plates slide past each other, the immense force creates friction along the fault line. This friction generates heat.
2. Pressure: The weight of the overlying rocks, combined with the pressure from the sliding plates, further increases the pressure on the rocks at the fault zone.
3. Heat and Pressure: This intense heat and pressure cause the existing minerals in the rocks to recrystallize and change their composition, resulting in metamorphic rocks.
Example:
A good example is the San Andreas Fault in California. The intense friction and pressure along this fault have created metamorphic rocks like schist and gneiss.
Key Takeaway: While transform boundaries are primarily known for earthquakes, the friction and heat they produce play a crucial role in the formation of metamorphic rocks.
