Geological Laboratory Techniques

By M Allman and D F Lawrence
Arco Publishing Company, Inc
1972 ISBN 0-668-03358-4

Arco Publishing Company writes:

This is the first comprehensive handbook for the geologist, whether amateur or professional, who requires practical information on the basic laboratory techniques essential to the study of geology. It also covers advanced and sophisticated procedures.

The topics described include specimen cutting and grinding, the preparation of thin sections of rock for microscope study, the petrological microscope, microfossil separation from various matrixes, isolation of minerals from mixed powders, moulding and casting methods to reproduce fossils, and modern embedding techniques for specimen display.

The equipment, different methods of working and their results are discussed and compared. In many cases an elementary method using simple equipment is described in addition to the more advanced methods which usually require expensive apparatus.

The text is augmented with nearly 200 illustrations. Of these 48 are in magnificent full color, and include 32 pictures showing the different stages of thin section preparation. The inclusion of a full color interference chart, in an extended, pull-out form, will be of particular value to the laboratory technician.

The authors are experts in the geological techniques and have both held appointments as Chief Technician in the Department of Geolgoy at Queen Mary College, University of London. This eminently practical manual will be indispensable in the laboratory to anyone concerned with geology in the universities, technical colleges and in industry.