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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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GNS Science
Photograph by Nick Mortimer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image

How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan. 'Geology – overview', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 2-Mar-09
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/geology-overview/5/2/2