Delaware Geological Survey Petrographic Data Viewer
Date
2021-05
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Newark, DE: Delaware Geological Survey, University of Delaware
Abstract
Petrography is a branch of geoscience focused on the description and classification of rocks, primarily by microscopic study of optical properties of minerals. A thin sliver of rock is cut from a sample, mounted on a glass slide, ground to approximately 30 microns (0.03mm), and viewed under a microscope that uses polarized light. By observing the colors produced as plain polarized light and crossed (90 degrees) polarized light shines through the minerals, petrologists can determine the minerals that comprise the sampled rock.
The data and photomicrographs of thin sections within the Delaware Geological Survey (DGS) Petrographic Data Viewer represent the total collection of the Delaware Geological Survey for the Delaware Piedmont and surrounding areas. The data viewer includes slides from DGS research, slides donated by researchers, and slides culled from class reports, master's theses, and Ph.D. dissertations. Within the application, the “Slide Made For” field identifies the original owner of the thin section. The researchers include: John Branca, A.D. Cohen, Bernard Dirska, Gregory S. Ghon, G. Michael Hager, C. Scott Howard, Guy W. Metz, Margaret O. Plank, LeAnn Srogi, Richard F. Ward, and DGS.
Existing data/slide descriptions have been included; however, no attempt was made to change the data/descriptions originally prepared by these researchers other than to correct typographical errors. These data appear as they were originally presented unless noted that modifications were made at a later date.
Additional Notes
The zoom tool allows one to focus on an area of interest. Click on an outcrop (sample) location to open a popup window containing the data for the selected sample(s). The popup window also includes thumbnail photomicrographs of the thin section in both plain polarized light and crossed polarized light. Click the thumbnail to open a full-size image. If interested in specific outcrops or thin sections, use the search tool to query by DGS outcrop ID, lithology, or address.
Launch the Delaware Geological Survey Petrographic Data Viewer
References
Branca, J., 1979, Petrology and structure of the Glenarm Series and associated rocks in the Mill Creek area, Delaware: Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware, unpublished Master's thesis, 84 p.
Cohen, A. D., 1964, Petrologic analysis of the gneisses at Windy Hills Bridge, Delaware: Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware, unpublished Geo402 class paper, DGS Sample/thin section record only.
Dirska, B., 1990, Petrology and evolution of the plutonic igneous rocks of the Wilmington Complex, northeastern northeastern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania: Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware, unpublished Master's thesis, 227 p.
Gohn, G.S., John, C.J., Hager, G.M., Niemann, N.L., Grundl, T.J., Bair, P.L., Dempsey, J.M., Ferris, L.A., and Lazzeri, J.J., 1974, Reconnaissance geology of the Mill Creek uplift, northeastern Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania Piedmont: Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware, unpublished report, 23 p.
Hager, G. M., 1976, Petrologic and structural relations of the crystalline rocks in the Hoopes Reservoir area, Delaware: Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware, unpublished Master's thesis, 79 p.
Howard, C. S., 1984, Geological and geophysical investigations in the Wilmington Complex/Wissahickon Formation boundary area, Delaware Piedmont: Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware, unpublished Master's thesis, 258 p.
Metz, G. W., 1988, The petrology of the cordierite-bearing gneisses near Montchanin, Delaware: Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware, unpublished senior thesis, 44 p.
Plank, M. O., 1989,Metamorphism in the Wissahickon Formation of Delaware and adjacent areas of Maryland and Pennsylvania: Newark, Delaware, University of Delaware, unpublished Master's thesis, 111 p.
Srogi, L., 1988, The petrogenesis of the igneous and metamorphic rocks in the Wilmington Complex, Pennsylvania-Delaware Piedmont: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, unpublished Ph. D. dissertation, 613 p.
Ward, R. F., 1958, Petrology and metamorphism of the Wilmington Complex Delaware adjacent Pennsylvania and Maryland: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, unpublished Ph. D. dissertation, 103 p.
Description
https://www.dgs.udel.edu/publications/ofr55-delaware-geological-survey-petrographic-data-viewer
Keywords
Plagioclase, Microcline, Magnetite, Olivine, Hornblende, Titanite, Muscovite, Orthopyroxene, Orthoclase, Clinopyroxene, Pyroxene, Serpentine, Map Application, Data Viewer, Wilmington, Newark, Hockessin, New Castle County Delaware, Delaware