pétrographes
Pétrographes is the French plural of petrographer and refers to specialists who study the composition, texture and origin of rocks. Working at the intersection of mineralogy and petrology, pétrographes analyze hand specimens and prepared thin sections to identify minerals, interpret rock-forming processes and classify rock types.
Common methods include optical microscopy with polarized light, thin-section preparation, and a range of instrumental techniques
Applications of petrography span academic research and industry. Pétrographes contribute to igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary petrology,
The discipline of microscopic petrography developed in the 19th century with pioneers who applied polarizing microscopy