Honorable Mention

Category: Technically Challenging

Gayle Gleason

TEM: JEOL(1200)-Bard

Photomicrograph of aqueous fluid inclusions (black arrows) along a healed microfracture in natural quartz. Microfracturing events in rocks provide pathways for water to enter minerals. With time the fractures heal, leaving behind trails of fluid inclusions. From there the water diffuses into the crystal structure and may hydrolytically weaken quartz.

Geology Dept. SUNY Cortland
Advisor         Gayle Gleason