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Flake Particles

This is part of a guide to the identification of particles seen in samples of free particles. This file includes all particles that may be present as microscopic flakes. Flakes are particles that have a thickness less than one fifth of the other smallest dimension.

Crystal Structure

These are particles that are crystalline. The most common particles in this category are the natural sheet silicates, such as the micas. They can be colorless to green, yellow, orange, red, brown, or black. Another common particle in this category is rust.

Mica

Mica, Palm Desert, California Mica, Palm Desert, California Mica, Palm Desert, California Mica, Palm Desert, California Mica, Palm Desert, California Mica, Palm Desert, California Mica, Palm Desert, California Mica, Palm Desert, California Mica, Palm Desert, California

Rust (Limonite)

Iron corrosion on a flat sheet of iron immersed in water often begins as a thin sheet of limonite, FeO.OH.nH2O. Sphurulites of goethite and/or lepidocrocite begin to grow in the sheet as it dehydrates. These are both anisotropic.

Polycrystalline Rust Flake Isotropic and Polycrystalline Rust Flakes

Isotropic Flakes

These particles may be any color and may show interference colors as in the case of some cosmetic particles. They may have accessory structures as in the case of fragments of insects.

Insect Fragments

Insect Wing Insect Wing Insect Fragment Insect Fragment

Cosmetics

Cosmetics Cosmetics

Skin Flakes

Skin Flakes

Iron Corrosion

Limonite Isotropic and Polycrystalline Rust Flakes

Films in or on Water

Clay Film from Water Clay Biofilm from Water

See also "Opaque Flakes

Opaque Flakes

These particles may be a mica (biotite), insect carapace, combustion debris (charred plant material), weld slag, metal film, or metal wear. Reflected light is needed to resolve most of the features that permit identification of the particle.

Mica

Mica, Palm Desert, California

Charred Plant

Charred Wood Charred Leaf

Insect Carapace

Heat-Treat and Weld Scales

Magnetite Sphere Mill Scale and Magnetite Spheres Weld Debris Weld Slag Body Shop Particles

Wear Metal Particles

Brass Scuffing Wear Scuffing Wear Scuffing Wear Scuffing Wear Scuffing Wear Scuffing Wear
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