Which type of metamorphic rock is characterized by the alignment of its minerals?

Foliated rock is characterized by the alignment of its minerals due to the pressure and temperature conditions under which it forms. During metamorphism, the minerals in the rock can become elongated or flattened, creating a layered or banded appearance as they align perpendicularly to the direction of the applied stress. This process is an essential characteristic of foliated metamorphic rocks, allowing for features such as mineral banding and foliation planes that make them distinctive. Examples of foliated rocks include schist and gneiss, which display this textural alignment clearly.

Non-foliated rocks, on the other hand, do not exhibit this characteristic alignment of minerals because they typically form under uniform pressure conditions, allowing the minerals to grow in a more interlocking, granular texture rather than layering. Granite, while a significant type of rock, is an igneous rock rather than a metamorphic one, and sedimentary rock forms through the accumulation and compaction of sediments, lacking the distinctive characteristics seen in metamorphic rocks like foliation.