Carbonate Rocks


Color cathodoluminescence image of a dolomite thin-section captured using a ChromaCL2™ detector utilizing the carbonate imaging optical filter to observe the blue-green luminescence only.

Petrography of carbonate rocks

Cathodoluminescence (CL)  discriminates diagenetic relationships in carbonates, especially dolomite. CL can reveal complex growth histories of calcite and dolomite crystals and replacement relationships. Phosphorescence of the dominant (orange-red) luminescence of the manganese cation prevents the use of certain acquisition modes. However, wavelength-filtered or spectrum imaging approaches can be useful for visualizing the texture apparent at other wavelengths.