Guidelines for analysis and description of regolith thin sections

Description

Cover Title Page Copyright Contents About the Second Edition Acknowledgements to the First Edition List of Abbreviations 1. Introduction 2. Definitions and Historical Review 2.1. What is Soil Micromorphology? 2.2. Brief Historical Review 2.3. Steps of Micromorphological Analysis 2.3.1. Sampling 2.3.2. Preparation of Thin Sections 2.3.3. Analysis and Description of Thin Sections 2.3.4. Interpretation and Reporting 3. Aspects and Techniques of Thin Section Studies 3.1. From a Two-Dimensional Observation to a Three-Dimensional Reality 3.1.1. Introduction 3.1.2. Transition from Two to Three Dimensions 3.1.3. Wedging Effects 3.1.4. Minimal Visible Size and Magnification 3.1.5. Holmes Effect 3.1.6. Orientation 3.1.7. Optical Illusion 3.2. Microscopic Techniques for Thin Section Studies 3.2.1. Introduction 3.2.2. Optical Techniques 3.2.2.1. Introduction 3.2.2.2. Circular Polarized Light 3.2.2.3. Dark-field Illumination 3.2.2.4. Oblique Incident Light and Dark Ground Incident Light 3.2.2.5. Fluorescence Microscopy 3.2.2.5.1. Introduction 3.2.2.5.2. Equipment 3.2.2.5.3. Application 3.2.2.6. Cathodoluminescence 3.2.2.6.1. Introduction 3.2.2.6.2. Equipment 3.2.2.6.3. Sample Preparation 3.2.2.6.4. Application 3.2.3. Selective Extractions 3.2.3.1. Introduction 3.2.3.2. Extraction of Carbonates 3.2.3.3. Extraction of Iron and Manganese Oxyhydrates 3.2.3.4. Bleaching of Humic Substances 3.2.4. Staining and Spot Tests 3.2.4.1. Introduction 3.2.4.2. Differential Staining of Anhydrous Alkali-Earth Carbonates 3.2.4.2.1. Introduction 3.2.4.2.2. Procedure 3.2.4.2.3. Application 3.2.4.3. Ferruginous Components 3.2.4.4. Manganese Oxides and Hydroxides 3.2.4.5. Clay Minerals 4. Elements of Fabric 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Concepts of Fabric 4.3. Elements of Fabric 4.3.1. Introduction 4.3.2. Patterns 4.3.2.1. Introduction 4.3.2.2. Basic Patterns 4.3.2.2.1. Basic Distribution Patterns 4.3.2.2.2. Basic Orientation Patterns 4.3.2.2.3. Orientation Patterns of Clay Particles 4.3.2.3. Referred Patterns 4.3.2.3.1. Referred Distribution Pattern 4.3.2.3.2. Referred Orientation Patterns 4.3.2.4. Related Distribution Patterns 4.3.2.4.1. General 4.3.2.4.2. The c/f related distribution pattern 4.3.3. Size 4.3.4. Sorting 4.3.5. Abundance 4.3.6. Shape 4.3.6.1. Introduction 4.3.6.2. Equidimensionality 4.3.6.3. Degree of Roundness and Sphericity 4.3.6.4. Surface Roughness and Smoothness 4.3.6.5. Boundary 4.3.7. Color 4.4. Variability within Partial Fabrics 4.5. Concepts Used 5. Voids, Aggregates and Microstructure 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Voids 5.2.1. Introduction 5.2.2. Types of Voids (Fig. 5.1) 5.2.3. Size of Poroids 5.2.4. Abundance of Voids 5.2.5. Roughness and Smoothness of Void Walls 5.2.6. Arrangement of Voids 5.2.7. Accommodation of Voids 5.2.8. Note 5.3. Aggregation 5.3.1. Introduction 5.3.2. Peds 5.3.3. Degree of Ped Separation and of Pedality 5.3.4. Size of Peds 5.3.5. Accommodation 5.3.6. Surface Roughness 5.3.7. Internal Fabric 5.3.8. Ped Arrangement Patterns 5.4. Types of Microstructures 5.4.1. Introduction 5.4.2. Main Types of Microstructure 6. Mineral and Organic Constituents 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Coarse Mineral Components 6.2.1. Introduction 6.2.1.1. Importance of its Description 6.2.1.2. Subdivision 6.2.1.3. Important Properties 6.2.1.3.1. Size 6.2.1.3.2. Shape 6.2.1.3.3. Abundance and Frequency 6.2.1.3.4. Alteration 6.2.2. Single Mineral Grains 6.2.3. Compound Mineral Grains and Rock Fragments 6.2.4. Inorganic Residues of Biological Origin 6.2.4.1. Introduction 6.2.4.2. Opaline Components 6.2.4.3. Calcium Oxalate Crystals 6.2.4.4. Calcium carbonate constituents of biological origin 6.2.4.5. Bones and Other Skeletal Tissues 6.2.5. Anthropogenic Elements 6.3. Description of Fine Mineral Components 6.3.1. Importance of its Description 6.3.2. Nature 6.3.2.1. Color 6.3.2.2. Limpidity 6.3.2.3. Interference Colors 6.3.2.4. Other Characteristics 6.3.3. Size 6.3.4. Shape 6.4. Description of Organic Components 6.4.1. Introduction 6.4.2. Animal Residues 6.4.3. Plant Residues 6.4.4. Alteration 6.4.4.1. Introduction 6.4.4.2. Alteration of Plant Tissues 7. Groundmass 7.1. Introduction and Definition 7.2. Description 7.2.1. The Limit Between Coarse and Fine 7.2.2. The c/f related Distribution Pattern 7.2.3. Coarse Material, Composition and Fabric 7.2.4. The Fine Material (Micromass) and Its Fabric 7.2.4.1. Introduction and Definition 7.2.4.2. Types of b-fabric 7.2.4.3. Factors Influencing the Expression of b-Fabrics 8. Pedofeatures 8.1. Introduction and Definitions 8.2. Subdivision of Pedofeatures 8.2.1. Introduction 8.2.2. Matrix and Intrusive Pedofeatures 8.2.3. Morphological Classification of Pedofeatures as Related to their Fabric 8.3. Coatings, Hypocoatings and Quasicoatings 8.3.1. Introduction 8.3.2. Definitions 8.3.3. Classification 8.3.4. Descriptive Criteria 8.4. Infillings 8.4.1. Definition 8.4.2. Classification 8.4.3. Descriptive Criteria 8.5. Crystals and Crystal Intergrowths 8.5.1. Introduction 8.5.2. Definition 8.5.3. Classification 8.5.4. Descriptive Criteria 8.6. Nodules 8.6.1. Introduction 8.6.2. Definition 8.6.3. Classification 8.6.3.1. Internal Fabric 8.6.3.2. External Morphology 8.6.4. Descriptive Criteria 8.7. Intercalations 8.7.1. Introduction 8.7.2. Definition 8.7.3. Classification 8.7.4. Descriptive Criteria 8.8. Excrements 8.8.1. Introduction 8.8.2. Descriptive Criteria for Excrements of the Mesofauna 8.8.2.1. Shape 8.8.2.2. Aging 8.8.2.3. Other Criteria 8.8.3. Descriptive Criteria for Excrements of Larger Animals 8.9. Compound Pedofeatures 8.10. Complex Pedofeatures 8.11. Fragmented, Dissolved and Deformed Pedofeatures 9. Making and Presenting Thin Section Description 9.1. Introduction 9.2. Observation 9.3. Artifacts 9.4. Description 9.4.1. How to Start? 9.4.2. Possible Description Schemes 9.4.3. Examples 9.5. Presentation of Data 10. References Appendix: Materials, Light, and the Petrographic Microscope Subject Index EULA