E. Cottrell, Smithsonian.
A thin slice of the ancient rocks collected from Gakkel Ridge near the North Pole, photographed under a microscope and seen under cross-polarized light. Field width ~ 14mm.
Analyzing rocks in thin section helps geologists identify and characterize minerals within a rock. The analyses reveal information about the rock’s mineral composition, texture and history, such as how it formed and any subsequent changes it has undergone. Researchers use the identification and chemical composition of the minerals in these ancient rocks from Earth’s mantle to determine the conditions under which these rocks melted.
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