Micromorphology

It has been said that the light microscope has been the most important scientific instrument of all time. It is the tool of micromorphology. "Micromorphology is the branch of soil science that is concerned with the description, interpretation and, to an increasing extent, the measurement of components, features and fabrics in soils at a microscopic level" (Bullock et al, 1985). Optical microscopy is one of the few techniques that allows us to examine the soil and is components in situ, unaltered and undisturbed by preparation or analytical procedures.

This page is supported by the SSSA Soil Mineralogy Division.

Books of Interest

Stoops, G. 2003. Guidelines for analysis and description of soil and regolith thin sections. Soil Sci. Soc. Am., Madison, WI. Check the SSSA Bookstore for ordering information

Stoops, G. 2003. ACHIEVEMENTS IN MICROMORPHOLOGY. Special Issue of CATENA (Vol. 54, 3), Elsevier, 364 pp.
This publication contains the Proceedings of the International Working Meeting on Soil Micromorphology organised in Gent from 9 till 13 July 2001. It presents 20 selected papers covering the field of soil micromorphology, from concepts to applications in pedogenesis, palaeopedology, archaeology and soil physics, including micromorphometry. A large number of colour plates illustrates the texts.

Soil Under the Microscope: Evaluating Soil in Another Dimension. A CD illustrating typical soil profiles the 12 soil orders, their geographical distribution and microfabrics common to the soils. Also illustrated are special features and minerals under the microscope. Copies may be obtained from Dr. Hari Eswaran, World Soil Resources, USDA/NRCS, PO Box 2890, Washington DC 20013, USA, Tel: 1-202-690 0333, Fax: 1-202-720 4593, email Hari Eswaran at Hari.Eswaran@usda.gov

Geotechnical Microanalysis and Micromorphology Centre

The Geotechnical Microanalysis and Micromorphology Centre maintains an excellent site for soil micromorphology information. This site includes some of the following:

A Reference Slide Collection for Soil Micromorphology

This collection of images and accompanying documents were prepared for the benefit of teachers and researchers who employ soil micromorphological techniques and for those who want to learn more about the organization of soil components at the microscopic scale. The slides were generously donated by an international group of soil scientists. They were edited and collated by the Reference Slide Subcommittee of the Soil Micromorphology Committee, a standing committee of the Soil Science Society of America. The collected slides were organized into four subsets—biological features; coatings; microstructure and porosity; and related distribution patterns. The slides will be scanned and added to the SSSA Image Gallery.

Other Resources

"Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description" published in 1985 by Bullock et al.

Key to the ISSS "Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description". by Prof. dr. G. Stoops. A series of keys is proposed to be used in combination with the "Handbook for Soil Thin Section Description" published in 1985 by Bullock et al.

Petrographic Concepts - Introduction to optical microscopy, mineral identification and micromorphological terms for thin section descriptions and interpretations by David W. Mogk, Dept. of Earth Sciences, Montana State University. 

Photography with a microscope This page describes the methods used to record images viewed through a microscope. The text describes the principles and practices of photomicrography, and is written for all who take photomicrographs, beginners and/or experienced practitioners. It emphasizes biological photography, but can be applied to thin sections. It describe techniques that may be applied to many disciplines for teaching, research, archives, or pleasure.

Microscopy and Analysis is an international publication for all who work with the applications, instrumentation and techniques of microscopy, chemical analysis and imaging to further our understanding of the biomedical and materials sciences. The magazine is sent free of charge to scientists who specify microscopy, chemical analysis and imaging equipment at their place of work. Web site includes numerous links of interest.

Soil Micromorphology at the University of Stirling. A good WEB site listing methodologies used to prepare thin sections, images, and links to numerous other sites of interest.

Portugese Rocks Under the Microscope Some portions in English

Preparation of Thin Sections Thin Section Lab, Dept. of Geology, Lakehead University, Ontario CANADA

Making Petrographic Thin Sections Detailed instructions on how to make thin sections using the facilities in the Union College Geology Department, Schenectady, NY.

Molecular Expressions Virtual Microscopy Website Interactive Java-powered virtual microscopes have been constructed. These virtual microscopes explore specimen focus, illumination intensity, magnification, and translation---operating essentially in a manner that is identical to real-life microscopes.

Microscopy Society of America The Microscopy Society of America (MSA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and advancement of the knowledge of the science and practice of all microscopical imaging, analysis and diffraction techniques useful for elucidating the ultrastructure and function of materials in diverse areas of biological, materials, medical and physical sciences.

International Cement Microscopy Association The goal of the ICMA is to provide an understanding of:

  • building material microstructure and the relationship between building material microstructure and performance, primarily for problem solving, quality control, and optimization.
  • cement clinker microstructure and the relationship between clinker microstructure and production parameters to improve production output, quality control, and address environmental issues in the cement plant
  • various microscopic techniques as applied in cement and concrete related fields

International Journal of Soil Science - International Journal of Soil Science publishes research articles, critical reviews or topical mini-reviews from every area of soil and plant science. 

A Listing of Minerals by Physical and Optical Properties (refractive index and color). Also listing of other crystallographic properties. Check out the Index to Mineral Links sites that specialize in mineral data.

Identification Table for Common Minerals in Thin Section From John Faithfull.

Minerals in thin section A database from the University College London listing resources for images and data for minerals in thin section from Ruth Siddall.

200 photomicrographs of common igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, textures and common minerals (thin sections at 0.03mm, many with crossed polarized light).

Common minerals in Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary rocks.

Rock-Forming Minerals in Thin Section This page is designed to display some of the most significant features of minerals viewed in thin section, and to show the most conspicuous features of major rock-forming minerals.

Igneous rocks in thin section Common igneous minerals with photos and information on section. From Union College.

Metamorphic rocks in thin section Common metamorphic minerals with photos and information on section. From Union College.

Rocks Under a Microscope: A Web Tour and Exercise with links to other sites of interest.

Optical properties of common minerals Chemical formula, composition, occurrence and optical properties of common minerals.

Lecture outline for optical mineralogy Optical properties illustrated along with optical properties of common minerals.

Optical Mineralogy A short introduction to the basics of optical mineralogy.

Preparing specimens for microscopy Preparation methods and pitfalls to avoid.

Study of minerals with the petrographic microscope This site from the Departament of Pedology, Universidad of Granada, Spain aims to illustrate how and why optical properties are observed by minerals under the transmitted light petrographic microscope. The procedure involves analysing the optical phenomena that occur when polarised light is passed through the minerals. Many of the instructions have video which illustrates the optical phenomena.
Several additional illustrated sites are included. Formation processes are discussed from a micromorphological point of view.

  • Carbonatation process in soil
  • Clay illuviation process in soil This program illustrates the features resulting from clay eluviation/illuviation processes, which consist of the mobilization, transportation and accumulation of clay in the B horizon.
  • Hydromorphic process in soil Hydromorphism in soils, at a macroscopic and a microscopic scale, are described. They are related to macrofeatures observed in the profiles, and their conditions of formation.
  • Study of coarse sands in soil The purpose of this article is to highlight the interest that the mineralogy of the coarse sand fraction (2-0.2 mm) can have for soil studies, both for scientific objectives and for applied research.
  • Micromorphography Interactive multimedia program for self-studying soil thin section description.
  • Micromorphology Interactive multimedia program for self-studying soil thin section interpretation.
  • Atlas of Rocks Igneous, metamorphic and volcanic rocks in thin section. Page shows landscape, hand specimens and thin section examples.

Metamorphic rocks in thin section Images in crossed and uncrossed polarized light.

Petrographic Workshop A guided discovery approach is used to "unpack" the methods and observations used by "master" petrographers in the petrographic analysis of a thin section. A series of spread sheets are used to direct students to make appropriate observations to systematically. By Dave Mogk, Montana State University.

The Mineral Gallery is a constantly growing collection of mineral descriptions, images, and specimens together with several ways of accessing these descriptions (name, class, etc). The descriptions include searchable mineralogical data, plus other information of interest to students.

Glacial Micromorphology. This site also includes information on sample drying and water replacement, sample impregnation, staining techniques, related micromorphology references, and Micromorphology Images Data Base.

Lunar Petrographic thin section package for educational institutions offering courses in the geosciences. Includes thin sections and complete descriptions.

Nikon - Introduction to Polarized Light Microscopy. Although much neglected and undervalued as an investigative tool, polarized light microscopy provides all the benefits of brightfield microscopy and yet offers a wealth of information, which is simply not available with any other optical microscopy technique.

Introduction to Optical Microscopy, Digital Imaging, and Photomicrography. Websites dealing with various aspects of microscopy, microanalysis and photomicrography; although not much for minerals.

MicroWorld Resources and News. A service to microscopists that includes numerous links to other sites of interest. It seems to be aimed at the biological community and electron microscopy, but may have some useful information. Included at this site is a WWW directory of microscopic products, services and news.

Link to vendors and suppliers direcrory for microscopist (although not much for minerals)

The International Metallographic Society has a site for metallography and metallographers that include many of the items also used to make thin sections. You might check out their home page and associated pages

Thin Section Images of Bone Microstructure From The University of Sheffield

The Laboratory for Comparative Microarchaeology and Metal Conservation Microarchaeology is the study of archaeologically related materials under the microscope. This discipline focuses on the observation of minuscule occurrences in the archaeological record, invisible to the naked eye.

Soil Micromorphology and sediment analysis and it’s contribution to the interpretation of archaeological sites from Museum of Archaeology, Stavanger, Norway.

Book - Geoarchaeology in Action: Studies in Soil Micromorphology and Landscape Evolution by Charles French. Published by Routledge and distributed by a number of on-line book sellers.

Article - T. Arpin and P. Goldberg. 2004. Using Optical Microscopy to Evaluate Human History. Microscopy and Analysis 67:13-15.

Petrography: Optical Microscopy: Petrography has developed into an indispensable tool for ceramic fabric analysis, specifically studying the mineralogical and textural composition of ceramic objects. 

Ceramic Petrology The purpose of this page is to supply a reference location for information dealing with the interaction of archaeology and geology - specifically ceramic petrology.

REFLECTED LIGHT AND ORE MICROSCOPY

Introduction to ore microscopy Mineralographic techniques involving microscopic examination of opaque minerals in reflected polarized light. By the Mineralogical Society of America, Founded December 30, 1919

Optical properties of Ore Minerals in Reflected Light A study of Ore Minerals in Reflected light by AMU Department of Geology.

Introduction to Ore Microscopy The introductory short course on ore microscopy is held yearly at the University of Geneva and offered to students of several Swiss Universities. We have put in the web microphotographs of typical polished sections used in the course.

Glossary of terms used with the petrographic (polarizing) microscope

Internet glossary of soil science terms. Official glossary from the Soil Science Society of America

Glossary of Geology Terms: USDA-NRCS National Soil Health Glossary.

Dictionary of Geologic Terms

Glossary of soil and other terms from Agriculture and Agro-Food Canada.