A companion volume to the "Atlas of rock-forming minerals in thin section", this full-colour handbook is designed to be used as a laboratory manual both by elementary students of earth sciences undertaking a study of igneous rocks in thin section under the microscope, and by more advanced students and teachers as a reference work. The book is divided into two parts - Part one is devoted to photographs of many of the common textures found in igneous rocks with brief descriptions accompanying each photograph. Part two illustrates the appearance of examples of some sixty of the commonest (and a few not so common) igneous rock types; each photograph is accompanied by a brief description of the field of view shown. Nearly 300 full-colour photographs are included, and in many cases the same view is shown both in plen-polarized light and under crossed polars. A brief account of how thin sections can be prepared is included as an appendix.

Photographs and brief descriptions of various types of rocks, minerals, and microtextures.

This concise volume is designed for the introductory undergraduate level. With the help of colour photographs, the authors explain how to observe, describe and identify thin section samples of rocks and minerals using the polarizing microscope.

'Hurray for Mackenzie and Guilford for at last we have a pictorial guide to the rock-forming minerals! . . . such feasts of colour in mineralogy books are rare . . . an admirable guide' New Scientist