Optical Mineralogy and Petrography
Identifying minerals and interpreting rock textures in thin section with the polarizing microscope.
GEOL-301 Year 3 3 credits 12 lessons planned ▶ Video lessons coming soon
Offered by HSM University · Earth Sciences
Course content
- 1The polarizing microscopeComing
- 2Plane-polarized light propertiesComing
- 3Crossed polars: birefringence and interference coloursComing
- 4Extinction, twinning and zoningComing
- 5Conoscopic light and interference figuresComing
- 6Identifying the common silicatesComing
- 7Igneous textures in thin sectionComing
- 8Sedimentary petrography: sandstonesComing
- 9Carbonate petrographyComing
- 10Metamorphic textures and reaction relationshipsComing
- 11Ore microscopy in reflected lightComing
- 12Capstone: a petrographic report on an unknown suiteComing
Requirements
Recommended background. You can start any course at any time.
Description
Identifying minerals and interpreting rock textures in thin section with the polarizing microscope.
Part of the Science stream, typically taken in year 3.