Cathodoluminescence imaging has been applied to study of a variety of problems within the broad field of geology, including mineral identification, recognition of different generations of minerals, zonation of crystals, textural relationships among minerals, and brittle deformation of mineral grains. In the field of sedimentology, the principal applications have been to provenance analysis of sandstones and shales and diagenesis of both siliciclastic and carbonate sediment. Other applications include study of the outlines and internal structures of fossils not visible by light microscopy, use of CL to detect trace-element distributions in minerals, and study of apatite in sedimentary rocks. Cathodoluminescence imaging has also been used to evaluate the characteristics of sedimentary ore deposits, to study aspects of petroleum geology, and to trace the sources of archeological materials. The remainder of the book focuses on these various applications.