Scanning Electron Microscope Examination of Quartz Surface Textures from Kaolinized Granitic Rocks

Observation of surfaces of quartz in kaolinized granitic rocks by scanning electron microscopy was applied to provide information on the environmental conditions of kaolinization. Comparing with the quartz grain surfaces from kaolinite and halloysite specimens each other, quartz crystals from kaolinite specimens show extremely rough surfaces caused by deep dissolution pits, while the surfaces from halloysite are relatively smooth surfaces. Quartz surfaces in hydrothermal kaolinized granitic rocks are extremely rougher than those in weathered granitic rocks.