Painting Rocks with Polarized Light.

Exploring the intersection between science and art — Sciart — inevitably involves microscopy because of its intrinsic ability to reveal microscopic hidden worlds not normally accessible to the public. Aesthetic microscopy, mainly performed in the biosciences using optical and electron devices, has more recently included the world of rocks and minerals as viewed with polarized light microscopy. In this contribution, all images are only from quartz to demonstrate the project micROCKScopica , where thin slices of rocks are "painted" with polarized light. The results resemble abstract or impressionist works of art. Who would have imagined? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]