PROBLEMS OF QUARTZ GRAIN MORPHOSCOPY

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Abstract
SUMMARY: In a historical review of the development of quartz‐grain morphoscopy some unsolved problems such as the real aspects of the details on frosted grain surfaces and the interpretation of the origin of different surface textures are elaborated. Discrepancies in the presentation of quartz‐grain types as observed by electron microscopy are mentioned. It is proposed to relate such investigations to CAILLEUX's (1942) classical morphoscopic method; this could be facilitated by the modern scanning electron microscope. The possibilities and advantages of this instrument for morphoscopic research are presented by first results concerning the surface textures of original quartz grains derived from a weathered granite and of experimentally and naturally etched grain surfaces. For generalized conclusions a greater number of further observations must be made.