EBSD analysis of rock fabrics and its application

The electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) technique is a brand-new technique of fabric analysis in modern structural geology. Its combination with the high resolution scanning electron microscope and energy dispersion spectrometer provides the possibility to perform a crystallographic analysis of micron- to nano-scale particles in massive samples and thus comprehensively use the microtextural, microchemical and crystallographic data to conduct a more intensive comparative study of the microstructures of minerals and rocks. The technique has opened up a new area of study for microstructural analysis. This paper introduces the basic principles and major constitution of the EBSD technique, procedures of working and sample processing, as well as quartz fabric measurements, fabric features of very fine material (microbreccia), fabrics and deformation mechanism of biaxial minerals (hornblende) and fabric analysis of metal sulfide. The paper also discusses difficulties in data acquisition and processing in the application of the EBSD system.