2nd Edition

Rocks and Minerals in Thin Section A Colour Atlas

By W.S. MacKenzie, A.E. Adams, K.H. Brodie Copyright 2017
    242 Pages 180 Color Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    242 Pages 180 Color Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    This concise, clear and handy–sized volume, aimed at the undergraduate level, provides an introduction to the observation, description and identifi cation in thin section, using the polarizing microscope, of samples of the commonlyoccurring rocks and minerals. Illustrated with a wealth of full colour thin section photomicrographs, and with the original images enhanced by new examples and a revised text, the book explains how to observe mineral and rock samples under the microscope. The book highlights the important diagnostic features of minerals and deals with all rock types – igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic – each with equal emphasis and authority, giving students the knowledge and confi dence to begin to identify specimens for themselves. While intended for students in geology, geography, civil engineering and materials science, the book stands on its own as a beautiful collection of photomicrographs and a permanent source of reference and fascination for all those interested in the nature and science of the world of rocks and minerals.

    Part 1 Optical mineralogy
    The polarizing microscope
    Description of minerals
    Shape and habit of crystals
    Colour and pleochroism
    Cleavage
    Relief
    Birefringence
    Extinction angles
    Twinning and zoning
    Undulose extinction and sub-grain structure
    Alteration
    Grain size

    Part 2 Minerals
    Olivine
    Orthopyroxene
    Clinopyroxene
    Two-pyroxene intergrowth
    Amphibole
    Biotite
    Muscovite
    Chlorite
    Quartz
    Feldspars
    Sanidine
    Microcline
    Plagioclase
    Nepheline
    Calcite
    Garnet
    Opaque minerals

    Part 3 Igneous rocks
    Peridotite
    Basalt
    Olivine basalt
    Basalt
    Dolerite
    Olivine gabbro
    Gabbro
    Andesite
    Diorite
    Granodiorite
    Rhyolite
    Microgranite
    Granite
    Alkali granite
    Phonolite
    Nepheline syenite
    Lamprophyre
    Ignimbrite

    Part 4 Sedimentary rocks
    Terrigenous clastic rocks
    Carbonate rocks
    Quartz arenite
    Feldspars in sedimentary rocks
    Sub-arkose
    Arkose
    Sub-litharenite
    Litharenite
    Wacke/Greywacke
    Micaceous sandstone
    Calcareous sandstone
    Glauconitic sandstone
    Mudstone
    Ooid grainstone
    Ooid packstone
    Bioclast packstone
    Bioclast wackestone
    Intraclast grainstone
    Peloid grainstone
    Carbonate mudstone
    Dolomite
    Radiolarian chert
    Replacement chert
    Evaporite
    Ooidal ironstone
    Banded ironstone
    Volcaniclastic rocks
    Porosity in sedimentary rocks

    Part 5 Metamorphic rocks
    Textures of metamorphic rocks
    Schistosity and schists
    Gneissic foliation and gneisses
    Mylonite
    Cataclasite
    Crenulations
    Lineations
    Reaction textures
    Metamorphosed mudstones (pelites)
    Chloritoid schist
    Garnet mica schist
    Staurolite schist
    Kyanite gneiss
    Garnet-sillimanite gneiss
    Andalusite-cordierite hornfels
    Garnet-cordierite hornfels (Granofels)
    Metamorphosed carbonate rocks
    Forsterite and diopside marble
    Metamorphosed basic rocks
    Garnet epidote amphibolite
    Amphibolite
    Two pyroxene granofels
    Glaucophane-lawsonite-schist (Blueschist)
    Glaucophane-epidote (Blue) schist
    Eclogite
    Ultramafic rocks

    Appendices

    Biography

    W.S. MacKenzie was Emeritus Professor of Petrology at the University of Manchester, England.

    A.E. Adams is retired Senior Lecturer in Geology at the University of Manchester, England.

    K.H. Brodie is Senior Lecturer in Geology at the University of Manchester, England.