Rocks and Minerals in Thin Section: A Colour Atlas

The skills of microscopic observation and of rock and mineral recognition are fundamental to all introductory courses in the earth sciences and related subjects. By helping to answer the question: "What am I supposed to be looking at?", a colour atlas is an invaluable resource in the teaching and learning process. This concise and handy-sized volume, designed for the introductory undergraduate level, explains, with the help of 180 colour photomicrographs, how to observe, describe and identify thin section samples of rocks and minerals using the polarizing microscope. The book highlights important diagnotic features of minerals and deals with all rock types - igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic - giving students the knowledge and confidence to begin to identify specimens for themselves. Each photograph has been specially prepared for the book and has been reproduced in a generous size.