Reduce3D: A tool for three-dimensional spatial statistical analysis of crystals

[摘要] Both the measurement of crystal sizes and locations in three dimensions and the simulation of crystallization produce data sets that require characterization. Reduce3D is a new computer program for measuring spatial statistics of interest to kinetic studies of crystallization. The principal statistical measures of such interest are the L′ function, the pair correlation function, and the mark correlation function. Reduce3D implements the ability to create a large number of pseudorandom interface controlled crystal arrays designed to mimic the rock being studied but with interface control of nucleation and growth, forming a null-hypothesis envelope. Values that exceed this envelope in the direction of ordering of crystal centers and/or growth suppression of nearby crystals may be interpreted as significantly ordered, which for metamorphic crystallization may imply diffusional control of nucleation and growth. Reduce3D, together with utility programs GraphCFs for visualizing relevant statistics and Render3D for visualizing the data set, form a suite that makes such interpretation rapid and straightforward.

[学科分类] 地质学