Micropetrology for Beginners: An Introduction to the Use of the Microscope in the Examination of Thin Sections of Igneous Rocks (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

J. E. Wynfield Rhodes

9780265478639: Micropetrology for Beginners: An Introduction to the Use of the Microscope in the Examination of Thin Sections of Igneous Rocks (Classic Reprint)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0265478634 ISBN 13: 9780265478639

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

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Explore rocks through the eye of the microscope and unlock their volcanic story.

This introductory guide teaches you how to use a petrological microscope to examine thin sections of igneous rocks, from glassy rhyolites to crystalline basalts, and understand their structure and origin.

In clear, hands-on language, the book walks you through key volcanic rocks and their textures, showing how mineral composition and crystal relationships reveal how rocks formed and cooled. You’ll learn to recognize groundmass types, phenocrysts, and common minerals such as orthoclase, plagioclase, augite, hornblende, and biotite, along with how porphyritic and granular textures develop in different settings.
What you’ll experience

Step-by-step guidance on preparing and interpreting thin sections under polarized light
Visual cues for distinguishing groundmasses like pilotaxitic, hyalopilitic, and granulitic textures
Examples of volcanic rocks across the spectrum, from rhyolites to basalts, including notable features like spherulites and ophitic structures
Practical notes on how crystal shape, color, and extinction patterns inform rock history

Ideal for students and hobbyists seeking a practical, image-driven introduction to volcanic petrography and microscope-based rock study.

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