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Microfractography of granitic rocks under confocal scanning laser microscopy
Author(s) -
MONTOTO M.,
MARTÍNEZNISTAL A.,
RODRÍGUEZREY A.,
FERNÁNDEZMERAYO N.,
SORIANO P.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1995.tb03544.x
Subject(s) - fissure , granitic rock , tortuosity , geology , laser microscopy , confocal laser scanning microscopy , confocal , microscopy , mineralogy , materials science , optics , geotechnical engineering , geochemistry , porosity , biomedical engineering , physics , medicine , paleontology
SUMMARY Scanning laser microscopy, in the confocal mode (CSLM) has been applied to a granitic rock to characterize its fissure space. The technique provides a unique three‐dimensional picture of the rock microfractography. CSLM is unique in observing fine details of the fractographic network (connectivity, tortuosity, etc.), its geometry and its relation to other rock‐forming components. The fractographic images with standard fluorescence microscopy are compared with those obtained with CSLM. The examples presented emphasize the advantages of CSLM: three‐dimensional visualization of the microfractographic network, crack connectivity, automatic evaluation of direction and slope of fissures. These studies are related to the migration of radionuclides in the geosphere. The relations between potentially water‐conducting open fissures, and the rock‐forming minerals provide a means of modelling the ‘radionuclide retardation mechanism’, a security factor in their definitive storage in rock masses.