Author: R. A. Ixer

Publisher: Springer

Published: 1992-03-31

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 9780442302917

Reflected light microscopy is the standard method for the This atlas contains nearly four hundred colour photomicro characterization of ore minerals and hence its role in economic graphs, each accompanied by a description and used to illustrate mineral studies is well established. However, the technique has common mineral assemblages. The photomicrographs are been neglected in routine petrographical studies of unminera grouped together into blocks of associations under a broad lized rocks. This is partly because the recognition and identifi genetic classification scheme, and each block is preceded by a cation of opaque minerals using their optical properties in text that is intended as a brief background and introduction to reflected light is a skill that takes time to master and partly the figured examples and an expansion of their mineralogy and because electron microscopy and microprobe techniques are petrography. The text, therefore, is biased towards descriptive as a substitute for, rather than alongside, the polarizing used petrography and away from economic geology, detailed microscope. descriptions of deposits or ore genesis. The majority of the Unlike translucent minerals in transmitted light, many of the references, nearly all of which are to be found in easily accessible optical properties of opaque minerals in reflected light are textbooks, conference volumes, or journals, reflect this bias. perceived to change as the viewing conditions are altered. In However, for the more important classes of mineral deposits, well polished, untarnished sections the perceived surface colour some recent generalized references are included.