Andesite Thin Section

A rock thin section is created by gluing a small piece of rock onto a glass slide then grinding it down to a thickness of 30 microns the average human hair is about 100 microns in diameter so that light shines through it when examined under the microscope.

Andesite thin section. Andesite ˈ æ n d ɪ s aɪ t or ˈ æ n d ɪ z aɪ t is an extrusive igneous volcanic rock of intermediate composition with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. Zoisite thin section photomicrographs are taken in plane polarized light and cross polarized light and can easily be recognized under the microscope. Trachy andesite from france puy de sancy trachy andesite from france puy de sancy phonolite from france roche sanadoire auvergne lava from vulcano sicily ryolithe.

Photomicrograph of sample 09rdwes301 an andesite collected during the redoubt 2009 eruption. Most of the modern andesite occur above the benioff seismic zone and the mean chemical composition of andesite is broadly similar to the estimated mean chemical composition of the continental crust of the earth. In a general sense it is the intermediate type between basalt and rhyolite and ranges from 57 to 63 silicon dioxide sio 2 as illustrated in tas diagrams.

La palma canary islands. Augite is a clinopyroxene.