Table of Contents

Petrology is the branch of geology that studies rocks and the conditions under which they form. This Open Educational Resources (OER) textbook uses illustrations and examples of video and interactive diagrams to guide students’ inquiries into learning the analysis of rock samples with a petrographic microscope.

You can navigate this book in multiple ways!  In addition to the Table of Contents below, there is a drop-down Table of Contents on the left side that can be used to jump from chapter to chapter without needing to return to this page.

Preface: Open Educational Resources (OER) for Geoscience Learning

Module 1. Overview

1.1 What is Petrology?

1.2 How is This Book Organized?

1.3 Why is Petrology Useful?

Module 2.  Using the Petrographic Microscope

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Thin Sections

2.3 Light and Optics Part 1: Electromagnetic Spectrum, Properties of Light

2.3 Light and Optics Part 2: Refractive Index, Polarized Light, Birefringence

2.4 Parts of the Petrographic Microscope

2.5 Common Issues Using a Petrographic Microscope

2.6 Properties Under Plane Polarized Light

2.7 Properties Under Cross Polarized Light

2.8 Interference Figures: Part 1

2.8 Interference Figures: Part 2

2.9 Atlas of Minerals in Thin Section

2.10 Synthesis Exercises

Module 3. Countertop Project

3.1 Overview of Countertop Project

3.2 Countertop Data

3.2.1 Baltic Brown

3.2.1 Baltic Brown

3.2.3 Giallo Fiorito

3.2.4 Golden Leaf

3.2.5 Green Butterfly

3.2.6 Rainbow Red

3.2.7 Santa Cecilia

3.2.8 Tan Brown

3.2.9 Tropical Brown

3.2.10 Ubatuba

3.3 Example Exercises