Petrography is a branch of
petrology that focuses on detailed descriptions of
rocks. Someone who studies petrography is called a
petrographer. The
mineral content and the
textural relationships within the rock are described in detail. The classification of
rocks is based on the information acquired during the
petrographic analysis. Petrographic descriptions start with the field notes at the outcrop and include macroscopic description of hand specimens. However, the most important tool for the petrographer is the
petrographic microscope. The detailed analysis of minerals by
optical mineralogy in
thin section and the micro-texture and structure are critical to understanding the origin of the rock.
Electron microprobe analysis of individual grains as well as whole rock chemical analysis by
atomic absorption or
X-ray fluorescence are used in a modern petrographic lab. Individual mineral grains from a rock sample may also be analyzed by
X-ray diffraction when optical means are insufficient. Analysis of microscopic
fluid inclusions within mineral grains with a heating stage on a petrographic microscope provides clues to the temperature and pressure conditions existent during the mineral formation.