Chemical etching of defect structures in pyroxenes and amphiboles has been investigated. Many features, such as very thin (∼1 micrometer) exsolution lamellae not observed by transmission optical microscopy of thin sections, have been observed in reflected light after chemical etching of cleaved or polished crystal surfaces. A new feature in the microstructure of pyroxenes, not previously reported in the literature, has been revealed by one of the etchants.