Komatiite rock. Polarised light micrograph of komatiite, a rare volcanic rock of ultramafic (very deep) origin. Seen here is the characteristic 'spini

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Komatiite rock. Polarised light micrograph of komatiite, a rare volcanic rock of ultramafic (very deep) origin. Seen here is the characteristic 'spinifex texture' of large, elongate olivine crystals that were formed during the sudden ascent and cooling of magma from great depth. This image has been obtained using cross-polarised light (or 'crossed nichols').

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Size: 4761px × 3770px
Photo credit: © DIRK WIERSMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: cross, cross-polarised, cross-polarized, crossed, crystal, crystalline, crystallised, crystals, earth, geological, geology, komatiite, light, lm, micrograph, microscope, microscopy, mineral, mineralogy, minerals, nichols, olivine, plm, polarised, polarized, rock, rocks, science, section, sectioned, spinifex, texture, ultramafic, volcanic