Barbed Particles

This is part of a guide to the identification of particles seen in samples of free particles. This file includes elongated particles that have barbs along their length.

Isotropic

These are isotropic particles that have barbs along their length. Silica phytoliths are the most common members of this group.

(Click here for more images of phytoliths.)

Anisotropic

These particles are bright between crossed polarizing filters (Anisotropic) and that have barbs along their length. Insect fibers, bird feather barbules, and plant hairs are the most common members of this group.

(Click here for more images of insect hairs.)

(Click here for more images of bird feather barbules.)

(Click here for more images of Plant Hair.)