Agate. Polarized light micrograph of a thin section through an agate mineral. Layers of chalcedony (banded) surrounded by quartz crystals. Chalcedony

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Agate. Polarized light micrograph of a thin section through an agate mineral. Layers of chalcedony (banded) surrounded by quartz crystals. Chalcedony is the amorphous or non-crystalline form of silica (silica dioxide). Quartz is the pure crystalline form of silica. Impurities cause coloured areas, with the pure quartz being colourless. Magnification: x3 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 5120px × 3413px
Photo credit: © ANTONIO ROMERO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: agate, anisotropic, anisotropy, background, birefringence, birefringent, black, chalcedony, close-, cryptocrystalline, crystal, crystallography, dioxide, earth, gem, gemstone, geode, geological, geology, geoscience, light, macro, materials, microcrystalline, micrograph, microscope, mineral, mineralogical, mineralogy, mining, moganite, petrographic, petrography, photography, physical, polarisation, polarised, polarization, polarized, quartz, research, science, sciences, section, silica, silicate, silicates, silicon, stone, structure, thin