Page 4 - A Practical Introduction to Optical Mineralogy

Preface
oC. D. Gribble and A. J. Hall, 1985
This book is copyright under the Berne Convention. No reproduction
without permission. All rights reserved.
Microscopy is a servant of all the sciences, and the microscopic examina-
George Allen & Unwin (Publishers) Ltd, tion of minerals is an important technique which should be mastered by
40 Museum Street, London WCIA lLU, UK all students of geology early in their careers. Advanced modern text-
books on both optics and mineralogy are available, and our intention is
George Allen & Unwin (Publishers) Ltd, not that this new textbook should replace these but that it should serve
Park Lane, Heme! Hempstead, Herts HP2 4TE, UK
as an introductory text or a first stepping-stone to the study of optical
Allen & Unwin Inc., mineralogy. The present text has been written with full awareness that it
8 Winchester Place, Winchester, Mass. 01890, USA
will probably be used as a laboratory handbook, serving as a quick
George Allen & Unwin Australia Pty Ltd, reference to the properties of minerals, but nevertheless care has been
8 Napier Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia taken to present a systematic explanation of the use of the microscope as
well as theoretical aspects of optical mineralogy. The book is therefore
suitable for the novice either studying as an individual or participating in
First published in 1985
classwork.
Both transmitted-light microscopy and reflected-light microscopy are
dealt with, the former involving examination of transparent minerals in
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data thin section and the latter involving examination of opaque minerals in
polished section. Reflected-light microscopy is increasing in importance
Gribble, C. D. in undergraduate courses on ore mineralisation, but the main reason for
A practical introduction to optical mineralogy.
1. Optical mineralogy 2. Microscope and microscopy combining the two aspects of microscopy is that it is no longer acceptable
I. Title II. Hall, A. J. to neglect opaque minerals in the systematic petrographic study of
549'.125 QE369.06 rocks. Dual purpose microscopes incorporating transmitted- and
ISBN 0-04-549007-4 reflected-light modes are readily available, and these are ideal for the
ISBN 0-04-549008-2 Pbk
study of polished thin sections. The technique of preparing polished thin
sections has been perfected for use in the electron microprobe analyser,
which permits analysis of points of the order of one micron diameter on
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
the polished surface of the section. Reflected-light study of polished thin
Gribble C. D. sections is a prerequisite of electron microprobe analysis, so an ability to
A practical introduction to optical mineralogy. characterise minerals in reflected light is of obvious advantage.
Bibliography: p. Reflected-light microscopy is described with consideration of the
Includes index. possibility that experienced transmitted-light microscopists may wish to
1. Optical mineralogy. I. Hall, A. J. II. Title.
QE369.06G75 1985 549' .125 84-28404 use this book as an introduction to the reflected-light technique.
ISBN 0-04-549007-4 (alk. paper) This book therefore introduces students to the use of both the
ISBN 0-04-549008-2 (pbk.: alk. paper) transmitted- and reflected-light microscope and to the study of minerals
using both methods (Ch. 1). The descriptive section on minerals is
subdivided for ease of presentation: the silicates (which are studied
using transmitted light) are described in Chapter 2, and are followed in
Set in 9 on 11 point Times by Chapter 3 by the non-silicates (which are studied using either transmit-
D.P. Media Limited, Hitchin, Hertfordshire ted or reflected light). The minerals are presented in alphabetical order
and printed in Great Britain
by Butler & Tanner Ltd, Frome and London but, to save duplicating descriptions, closely related minerals have been
presented together. The best way to locate the description of a given
mineral is therefore to look up the required mineral in the index, where
minerals appear in alphabetical order. Although important, a detailed
understanding of optical theory is not essential to mineral identification.

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