Jeff Barton Meteorite Kaleidoscope

Jeff Barton Meteorite Kaleidoscope
Chondrules in a specimen of Allende meteorite viewed in a cross-polarized light using a petrographic microscope. The chondrules date the meteorite to more than 4.55 billion years old. This means meteorite is the oldest material known. The author of these stunning kaleidoscope images is Richardson, Texas, USA based scientist Jeff Barton.
According to Barton, he began studying thin sections of rocks and meteorites in 2004. He taught himself how to identify minerals in thin sections by measuring index of refraction with a microscope. Now he uses a spectrograph and computer software. Also, he started taking photographs of the colorful bits in the meteorites. ‘Variations in optical glass and in mounting lenses can alter the polarization of light passing through the lenses. Making the photographs takes a matter of seconds to minutes, depending on how thoroughly you want to document the section and what you are trying to learn from it“, says Jeff Barton.

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