Quantitative Textural Measurements in Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology

by Michael Denis Higgins

• ISBN13: 9780521135153
• ISBN10: 052113515X
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-03-11
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Processes involved in the development of igneous and metamorphic rocks involve some combination of crystal growth, solution, movement and deformation, which is expressed as changes in texture (microstructure). Advances in the quantification of aspects of crystalline rock textures, such as crystal size, shape, orientation and position, have opened fresh avenues of research that extend and complement the more dominant chemical and isotopic studies. This book discusses the aspects of petrological theory necessary to understand the development of crystalline rock texture. It develops the methodological basis of quantitative textural measurements and shows how much can be achieved with limited resources. Typical applications to petrological problems are discussed for each type of measurement. This book will be of great interest to all researchers and graduate students in petrology.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Petrological methods

Qualitative versus quantitative data

What do I mean by texture?

Information density and data sources

Structure of this book

Software applications for quantitative textural studies

General analytical methods

Introduction

Complete three dimensional analytical methods

Extraction of grain parameters from data volumes

Destructive partial analytical methods

Surface and section analytical methods

Extraction of textural parameters from images

Calculation of three dimensional data from two dimensional observations

Verification of theoretical parameter distributions

Summary

Grain and crystal sizes

Introduction

Review of theory

Analytical methods

Typical applications

Grain shape

Introduction

Brief review of theory

Methodology

Typical applications

Grain orientations - rock fabric

Introduction

Brief review of theory

Introduction to fabric methodology

Determination of shape preferred orientations

Determination of lattice preferred orientations

3D bulk fabric methods - combined SPO and LPO

Extraction of grain orientation data and parameters

Typical applications

Grain spatial distributions and relations

Introduction

Brief review of theory

Methodology

Typical applications

Textures of fluid-filled pores

Introduction

Brief review of theory

Methodology

Parameter values and display

Typical applications

Appendix - Computer programs for use in quantitative textural analysis - freeware, shareware and commercial

Abbreviations

General analytical methods

Grain and crystal sizes

Grain shape

Grain orientations - rock fabric

Grain spatial distributions and relations

Figure captions

References

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