Quantification of quartz microstructures

Abstract

Quartz microstructure analysis based on classical optical microscopy, is appointing to the identification of features related with dominial quartz studies. Microstructural features defined in this study include the concepts of microstructures, microstructural elements, microstructural features, fabric elements, elementary textures, textural elements and textural features (e.g., Vernon, 1976 and Kosaka, 1980). Petrographic analysis was focused on the identification of quartz microstructures, such as intra-granular microstructures, inter-granular boundary, and their relation to the deformation mechanisms activated during a simple shear progressive deformation event. These structures were quantified following the methodology developed by Kosaka (1980). To ensure a random sampling, measurement points were picked from a standard grid that covers the total thin section area. A statistically significant number of points were analysed.