Multi-orientation thin sectioning for the determination of 3-D morphology

A new soil thin sectioning technique which gives thin cross-sections (called sliver sections) of thin sections, is described. Optical analysis of soil thin sections and soil sliver sections, using plain, crossed polarized and circularly polarized light provides three-dimensional information on the micromorphology of clay coatings. This new technique is applied to a common type of clay plug and shows that these features consist of a stack of bowl-shaped clay coatings.