Orientation patterns of anisotropic individuals of a size above the resolution of the optical microscope can be usually redily identified. The orientation patterns of both coarse and fine material should be described where appropriate. Description of the orientation of clay-sized particles below the resolution of the optical microscope depends on identifying the way in which they are orgainzed into domains within which the particles are oriented with respect to each other. The pattern of basic orientation is a measure of the degree of preferred orientation of the compound anisotropic units. The extent to which these units are oriented with respcet to each other is reflected in the overall appearance of the material.
Clay particles in a clay coating parallel to the wall of a void.
Concerned with the distribution of individuals with respcet to other individuals of the same type. There are essentially two types, random and parallel, although from a theoretical point of view, a perpendicular basic orientaion pattern is also possible. Description of the orientation of clay-sized particles belo the resolution of the optical microscope depends on identifying the way in which they are organized into domains within which the particles are oriented with respcet to each other. Indivuals are distributed randomly thoughout the thin section. The distance between individuals is smaller than the distance between bands.