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Universal stage measurements in petrofabric analysis revisited

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Abstract

Once an important accessory for petrographic microscope and a valuable tool in mineralogical and petrofabric work, the Universal Stage (U-stage) has been dubbed obsolete with the advent of electron microprobe and XRD, and subsequent phasing out of the production of the optical equipment. Modern-day fabric analysis also relies more on far more expensive texture goniometers, neutron activation analysis and electron back-scattered diffraction analysis (EBSD) equipment. However, routine measurements of crystallographic fabric elements of uniaxial mineral aggregates (quartz- and calcite c-axis), principal axes of important biaxial minerals like olivine, strength of mica (001) fabric, paleostress estimate from mechanical twins (e-twin) in calcite, and evaluation of meteorite impact texture in quartz as well as impact history of asteroids, can still be done by U-stage knowledgeably and in a cost effective manner, subject to adequate training by efficient instructors. In the cases of e-twin in individual calcite grains and planar deformation features in natural shocked quartz, U-stage measurement cannot still be replaced by EBSD. An abridged review of the science behind U-stage procedure with examples of actual application has been presented to rekindle the interest.

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Reproduced with permission from Elsevier, Earth Sci. Rev. 98 123–170 (French and Koeberl 2010).

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Acknowledgements

I had originally learnt the U-stage technique from Prof Amaljyoti Sengupta, formerly of University of Calcutta, who was my mentor for master’s thesis. Sojen, Sukanya and Vikash have been enthusiastic in acquiring the skill and employing it successfully for their doctoral researches, which also kept my interest alive. Photographs of universal stage equipment and accessories used in this article have been taken at the Microscopy Lab, Geological Studies Unit, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata. Facilities at ISI helped to complete this work. I thank Prof N V Chalapathi Rao, Editor-in-Chief, JESS for the encouragement to submit this review article. Constructive comments and suggestions on an earlier version of the manuscript from Prof C E Nehru and one anonymous reviewer helped in improving the article. Trade and brand names used here are only for instructional purposes.

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    Dilip Saha

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Correspondence to Dilip Saha.

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Communicated by N V Chalapathi Rao

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Saha, D. Universal stage measurements in petrofabric analysis revisited. J Earth Syst Sci 130, 116 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-021-01618-x

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