Rutile, Virginia Beach, Virginia
This is a Virginia Beach rutile showing pleochroism. When
the linear polarizer is oriented normal to the length of the
crystal the crystal appears lighter. When it is parallel to the length the crystal
is darker.
Transmitted Linear Polarized Light Oriented Perpendicular to the Long Axis (omega
direction)
Definition/Function:
Significance in the Environment:
Characteristic Features:
Associated Particles:
References:
Greenberg, Gary, A GRAIN OF SAND: NATURE'S SECRET WONDER, Voyageur Press, 2008.
Welland, Michael, SAND: THE NEVER ENDING STORY, University of California Press, 2009.
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjun01/clsand.html
(Good Information on the microscopy of sand, Great site for more information on
microscopy in general)
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=a-grain-of-sand-natures-secret-wonder
(Good Information on Sand with links to more information on sand)
http://www.sciencelive.org/component/option,com_mediadb/task,play/idstr,Open-feeds_fsc_exploring_sedimentary_processes_fsc02_02_m4v/vv,-2/Itemid,97
(Brief, very informative video on what can be learned from the shape of a sand
grain.)