Thin section

Thin section

In optical mineralogy and petrography, a thin section is a laboratory preparation of a rock, mineral or soil sample for use with a polarizing petrographic microscope. A thin sliver of rock is cut from the sample with a diamond saw or laser, mounted on a glass slide and then ground smooth using progressively finer abrasive grit until the sample is only 0.03 mm (30 micrometres) thick.

When placed between two polarizing filters set at right angles to each other, the optical properties of the minerals in the thin section alter the colour and intensity of the light as seen by the viewer. As different minerals have different optical properties, most rock forming minerals can be easily identified. Plagioclase for example can be seen in the photo on the right as a clear mineral with multiple parallel twinning planes. The large blue-green minerals are clinopyroxene with some exsolution of orthopyroxene.

Thin sections are prepared in order to investigate the optical properties of the minerals in the rock. This work is a part of petrology and helps to reveal the origin and evolution of the parent rock.

References

* Shelley, D. "Optical Mineralogy, Second Edition." University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

External links

* [http://www.logitech.uk.com/geol.asp Thin section preparation techniques]
* Thin sections of ceramics


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  • Thin section — Thin Thin, a. [Compar. {Thiner}; superl. {Thinest}.] [OE. thinne, thenne, thunne, AS. [thorn]ynne; akin to D. dun, G. d[ u]nn, OHG. dunni, Icel. [thorn]unnr, Sw. tunn, Dan. tynd, Gael. & Ir. tana, W. teneu, L. tenuis, Gr. ? (in comp.) stretched… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Thin section — Section Sec tion, n. [L. sectio, fr. secare, sectum, to cut; akin to E. saw a cutting instrument: cf. F. section. See {Saw}, and cf. {Scion}, {Dissect}, {Insect}, {Secant}, {Segment}.] 1. The act of cutting, or separation by cutting; as, the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • thin section — mikrošlifas statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Plokščias, poliruotas ar kitaip paruoštas objekto paviršius mikroskopiniams tyrimams. atitikmenys: angl. microsection; thin section vok. Dünnschliff, m; Mikroschliff, m rus.… …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • thin section — šlifas statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Dangos skerspjūvio gludinys, paruoštas storiui matuoti. atitikmenys: angl. section; thin section vok. Schliffprobe, f; Schliffstück, n rus. шлиф, m pranc. coupe, f; section polie …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • thin section — šlifas statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Nušlifuotas, mikroskopiniam tyrimui paruoštas bandinys. atitikmenys: angl. section; thin section vok. Schliffprobe, f; Schliffstück, n rus. шлиф, m pranc. coupe, f; section polie …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

  • thin section — šlifas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Nušlifuotas, mikroskopiniam tyrimui paruoštas bandinys. atitikmenys: angl. section; thin section rus. шлиф …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • thin section — mikrošlifas statusas T sritis fizika atitikmenys: angl. microsection; thin section vok. Dünnschliff, m; Mikroschliff, m rus. микросрез, m; микрошлиф, m pranc. coupe microscopique, f; microcoupe, f; section microscopique, f …   Fizikos terminų žodynas

  • thin section — noun : a section of rock 0.02 to 0.03 millimeters thick cemented for study between clear glass plates …   Useful english dictionary

  • Thin — Thin, a. [Compar. {Thiner}; superl. {Thinest}.] [OE. thinne, thenne, thunne, AS. [thorn]ynne; akin to D. dun, G. d[ u]nn, OHG. dunni, Icel. [thorn]unnr, Sw. tunn, Dan. tynd, Gael. & Ir. tana, W. teneu, L. tenuis, Gr. ? (in comp.) stretched out, ? …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Section — Sec tion, n. [L. sectio, fr. secare, sectum, to cut; akin to E. saw a cutting instrument: cf. F. section. See {Saw}, and cf. {Scion}, {Dissect}, {Insect}, {Secant}, {Segment}.] 1. The act of cutting, or separation by cutting; as, the section of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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