Story: Geology – overview

Marlborough schist under the microscope (2nd of 2)

Marlborough schist under the microscope

A microscope slice of Marlborough schist, 3 millimetres across, viewed under polarized light. There is a very strong alignment of minerals, with an alternation of coarser and finer-grained layers. The larger grains (white to dark grey) are quartz and feldspar, whereas the smaller, coloured grains are mainly mica.

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Photograph by Nick Mortimer

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, 'Geology – overview - Disturbances on the edge of Gondwana', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/9852/marlborough-schist-under-the-microscope (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, published 12 Jun 2006