Micropetrology For Beginners - An Introduction To The Use Of The Microscope In The Examination Of Thin Sections Of Igneous Rocks An Introduction to the Use of the Microscope in the Examination of Thin Sections of Igneous Rocks

MICROPETROLOGY FOR BEGINNERS; AN INTRODUCTION TO THE USE OF THE MICROSCOPE IN THE EXAMINATION OF THIN SECTIONS OF IGNEOUS ROCKS - 1912 -AUTHORS NOTE - THE great increase in the popularity of Petrology in recent years has made the want of a practical elementary text-book more keenly felt, especially by teachers in evening technical schools. The subject is required for Inter. B. Sc. in Geology London but unfortunately it is impossible to gain the necessary practical information on the handling of the petrological L microscope either from the general text-books on Geology or the specialised books on Petrology. The latter, as far as England is concerned, arcfew in number, expensive, and they do not give the elementary practical information that a student needs although, on the other hand, they go very much further into the subject than. is advisable for a beginner. This little book has been written to bridge over this gap and to give the student and the amateur microscopist that practical knowledge of Dlicropetrology which hitherto he could only learn from the verbal instructions of a teacher. An account is first given of the method of using the microscope, then the optical properties of rock-forming minerals are treated in a general way. A detailed account of the study of a carefully chosen series of igneous rocks follows, the method of identifying each mineral being given as each new rock introduces them. It is suggested that the student should procure slides1 of most if not all of the rocks described, and work through them systematically in the order given, making sketches, preferably in colour, as he goes along. Chapter VII. gives a synopsis of the igneous rocks, showing therelationships of the different types to each other in a concise form. In the Appendices is given some more advanced methods of identifying rock-forming minerals in thin section, and a table for the identification of rock-forming minerals in thin section. A glossary-index is added, which should be a great help to all beginners in Petrology. 1 A set of slides to illustrate this book can be obtained from Messrs. Flatters Garnett, Dover Street, 35anchester, and Messrs. V. Watson Sons, Ltd., 313 High Holborn, London, W. C. AUTHORS NOTE ix I owe many improven ents and suggestions to my friends Mr. E. L. Rheacl, F. I. C., and Mr. C. H. Sidebotham, A. R. S. M., F. G. S., of the Municipal School of Technology, Manchester, whose kindness in taking so much personal interest in the book has been a great en couragement to me. To 1 . Sidebotham I am also indebted for the Preface, which he has so kindly contributed, for help in revising proofs, and for the Frontispiece. I have great plcasure in acknowledging the kind assistance of Dr. ITT. G. Rhodes, Head of the Physic Department, Royal Technical Institute, Salford, who has read through the proofs of the optical portion of the book. For the loan of blocks of their respective microscopes, I owe thanks to illessrs. J. Swift Son, and TV. IVatson Sons. PREFACE IN recommending the following pages to the attention of students and teachers of Practical Petrology, I may say that some fifteen years teaching experience in this subject had fully convinced me of the want of such a work...