Volcanic Colour

The beautiful crystalline structure of an ancient volcanic eruption – here a gabbro rock from the tertiary volcanic centre at Ardnamurchan, Scoltland. This sample shows mainly plagioclase feldspar, classic albite twinning, large Olivine crystals and pyroxene. Each mineral crystal is oriented at differing angles producing this wonderful Kaleidoscope of colour under polarized light – each colour is a different mineral. Polarized light is used to discover the mineral composition of rocks and is vital in gaining a better understanding of the Earth.