Eclogite rock. Polarised light micrograph of eclogite, a relatively rare metamorphic rock formed at great depth under high pressure and temperature. D

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Eclogite rock. Polarised light micrograph of eclogite, a relatively rare metamorphic rock formed at great depth under high pressure and temperature. Densely packed pyroxene crystals form the main matrix of rock, with large garnet porphyroclasts (black, upper left and right). In this sample the pyroxene crystals have been stretched out and folded due to pressure exerted on the rock. This image has been obtained using cross-polarised light (or 'crossed nichols'). For retrograde eclogite, where the rock has changed over time after being brought to the surface, see image C001/9169.

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Size: 4724px × 3763px
Photo credit: © DIRK WIERSMA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: colour, colourful, colours, cross, cross-polarised, cross-polarized, crossed, crystal, crystalline, crystals, deformed, earth, eclogite, garnet, geological, geology, light, lm, metamorphic, micrograph, microscope, microscopy, mineral, mineralogy, minerals, multicoloured, nichols, plm, polarised, polarized, porphyroclast, porphyroclasts, pressure, pyroxene, rock, rocks, science, section, sectioned, ultramafic