Hoar-Crystal Method for Ice Fabrics

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Shoji, Hitoshi, Langway, Chester C
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1982
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000011722; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000011722

Abstract A new method has been developed for the observation of crystal axes orientation in fine-grained polycrystalline ice (grain-size approximately one millimetre). A two per cent ethylene dichloride solution of polyvinyl formal (Formvar) is applied to the surface of a sample. This solution produces adequate density of small holes in the Formvar coating and subsequently the nucleation sites for hoar crystal growth. The geometrical shape of each hoar crystal reveals both the c -axis and a -axes orientations using an optical microscope.