Transmitted Light Microscopy of Rock-Forming Minerals: An Introduction to Optical Mineralogy

This book provides a guide to optical mineralogy for beginners and microscopists, allowing the fast identification of common rock-forming minerals in a thin section using a polarized light microscope. It explains essential principles in numerous schemes and includes 72 mineral plates with 1000 microscopic images. The original approach organizes mineral plates by color and decreasing birefringence in cross polarized light. Two chapters cover the classification of magmatic and metamorphic rocks and their mineral parageneses and textures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 10 June 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This comprehensive guide to optical mineralogy is designed to cater to beginners and microscopists seeking to enhance their knowledge in the field. It offers a quick and efficient method for identifying common rock-forming minerals in thin sections using a polarized light microscope. The book summarizes essential principles of optical mineralogy in various schemes, making them accessible to a wide range of readers.

Through the use of over 1000 microscopic images, it explains how to determine the diagnostic optical characteristics of a mineral in a thin section. Seventy-two mineral plates featuring sixty-five common rock-forming minerals, captured in plane and cross polarized light, illustrate the most important optical and crystallographic parameters and their diagnostic features. These mineral plates showcase the typical appearance of these minerals in various geological settings.

The unique approach of the book is to organize mineral plates based on color in transmitted plane polarized light and, within each color category, by decreasing maximum birefringence in cross polarized light. This arrangement facilitates mineral identification by allowing readers to focus on specific color ranges and birefringence values. Additionally, two chapters are dedicated to the classification of magmatic and metamorphic rocks and their common mineral parageneses and textures.

The book reflects the extensive experience of the authors in teaching optical mineralogy to generations of students at renowned universities such as the Universities of Heidelberg, Basel, and Geneva. It is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the world of minerals and their diagnostic characteristics through the lens of optical microscopy.

Weight: 802g
Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031196119
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023