COMPUTER-AIDED POLE FIGURE CONSTRUCTION

A microcomputer application has been designed to assist in the construction of pole figures using a digital universal microscope stage. The software monitors the stage orientation and switch settings in real time. The trend and plunge of the microscope axis is displayed on an equal area (Schmidt) stereonet in a user-defined reference frame. Data may be recorded relative to the sides of the petrographic slide as reference frame. Alternatively, the specimen's field orientation may be restored and orientations may be calculated relative to the north-east-down geographical reference frame. The computer calculates, records, and graphically displays pole orientations. Data for different minerals may be stored in separate files and data from several thin sections may be merged in a single pole figure. Output to a dot matrix or laser printer is supported.