MICROSTRUCTURES IN CARBONATES.

The mechanical properties of carbonate minerals can only be understood in terms of the types of dislocations and other defects which modify the perfect lattice. Accordingly, this report deals with structural imperfections, occurring on a scale of one to a few thousand Angstroms, and therefore frequently called the microstructure. The authors summarize the limited observations of microstructures in carbonates which exist and point out some avenues for future research. The review includes findings which are published and also new results obtained primarily in the laboratories of the authors. Refs.