Bird Dropping

This is from a sample of a bird dropping outside on a fence. The crystal of interest is in extiction position (parallel extinction). The other crystals show that the lowest refractive index, alpha, of these crystals is parallel to the long axis.

Transmitted Crossed Linear Polarized Light with the Red Plate Compensator

Definition/Function:

Significance in the Environment:

Characteristic Features:

Associated Particles:

References:

Rapp, George Jr. and Susan C. Mulholland (eds) 1992, PHYTOLITH SYSTEMACTICS: EMERGING ISSUES, PLENUM PRESS Piperno, Dolores R. (2006), PHYTOLITHS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR ARCHAEOLOGISTS AND PALEOECOLOGISTS, ALTAMIRA PRESS.