Identification Tables for Common Minerals in Thin Section

These tables provide a concise summary of the properties of a range of common minerals. Within "iii$ Colour in TS etc: the range of colours for each mineral the tables, minerals are arranged by colour so as to is given, together with a description of any pleochroism. 1ote that these are colours seen in thin0section, not hand0specimen. help with identification. If a mineral commonly has The latter will always be much darker and more intense than a range of colours, it will appear once for each thin section colours. colour.
"iv$ I: the total range of refractive inde( shown by the

To identify an unknown mineral, start by answering mineral with this coulour is shown! This covers any range due to compositional variation by solid solution, as well as the the following uestions! two or three refractive indices of anisotropic minerals. "#$ What colour is the mineral? "%$ What is the relief of the mineral? "v$ elief ! is described verbally, followed by a sign "&$ Do you think you are looking at an igneous, indicating whether the relief is positive or negative "ie greater metamorphic or sedimentary rock? or less than the mounting medium of the thin0section 0 #..+$. 'o to the chart, and scan the properties. Within each colour group, minerals are arranged in order of increasing refractive inde( "which more or less "vi$ !"tinction: angles are only given where minerals corresponds to relief$. This should at once limit you usually show a linear feature such as a cleavage and2or long to only a few minerals. )y looking at the chart, see crystal faces. 3or plagioclase feldspars "stippled$ the e(tinction angles given are those determined by the Michel0 which properties might help you distinguish between the possibilities. Then, look at the mineral 4evy method "see a te(tbook for details$. again, and check these further details.
Minerals with refreactive indices close to #..+ have low relief, those with much higher or lower refractive inde(es will have high relief.

"vi$ Int# $igure! this gives details of the interference figure. 5ny numbers given refer to the value of %6 "normally a Notes: range is given$, followed by the optic sign. 3or unia(ial minerals the word 78ni7 is given, followed by the sign.9our "i$ Name! names listed here may be strict mineral names "eg course may or may not have covered interference figures. If andalusite$ , or group names "eg chlorite$, or distinctive not, ignore this section: variety names "eg titanian augite$. These tables contain a personal selection of some of the more common minerals. "vii$ %irefr! )irefringence is described verbally, In some *emember that there are nearly +,,, minerals, although -./ cases the ma(imum is given as a colour, in other cases you of these are rare or very rare. The minerals in here probably will need to cross0refer to an interference colour chart. make up -./ of medium and coarse0grained rocks in the crust. "viii$ T&inning etc#!, a few notes about twinning, or other internal features of crystals may be given. If no twinning is "ii$ IMS! this gives a simple assessment of whether the mentioned, then the phenomenon is not common in thin mineral is common in igneous "I$, metamorphic "M$ or section, but this does not mean that it 1;6;* occurs. sedimentary "S$ rocks. These are not infallible guides 0 in particular "i($ Notes! general tips on appearance, occurrence and distinguishing features. May include indication of whether the mineral is length fast or slow 0 again a feature not covered in all courses 0 but a useful and easily0determined property. many igneous and metamorphic minerals can occur occasionally in sediments. )ear this in mind, even if minerals are not marked as being common in sediments.
John Faithfull 1998

Are these tables any good? Do you like them? Do they work? I would welcome any comments which might impro e their usefulness! In particular" I would be grateful if you could let me know of any errors you find! #ther iews on layout or content also welcome! John Faithfull manager$museum!gla!ac!uk!
Mineral IM S IM S Colour in TS etc. COLOURLESS colourless 1.521.53 v.low 80, -ve low u! "o #re$ cross-%&"c% RI Relief Extinction Int. Figure Birefr. Twinning etc. Notes

'winnin# ver$ (is"inc"i

microcline &l)i"e *!l&#iocl&se+

IM I

colourless colourless colourless.

1.521.5, 1.531.55 1.531.5. 1.5, -1.56 1.5,-.15 5 1.551.5. 1.551.65 1.561.58 1.561.61 1.5.1.57 1.601.6, 1.601.6.

v.low -v.low -v.low low -v.low v.low low -

-20 "o -12 *Mic%elLev$+ 0

.0-80, -ve Uni -ve ,0-80, mos"l$ -ve

low u! "o cre&m low u! "o (0 #re$ low u! "o w%i"e low u! "o !&le #re$ low u! "o cre&m low u! "o w%i"e e2"reme. 8in0$-)u11 low u! "o cre&m %i#% u! "o u!. II or(er low u! "o cre&m:$ellow mo( "o %i#% u! "o mi( II or(er. mo( u! "o low II or(er

/l)i"e "wins &lon# len#"%, &lso C&rls)&( - o"%ers

Common in low-#r&(e &n( un"winne( - c&n ) on more c&lcic !l&#ioc

ne!%eline cor(ieri"e

&n(esine *!l&#iocl&se+ 3u&r"4 l&)r&(ori"e *!l&#iocl&se+ c&lci"e )$"owoni"e *!l&#iocl&se+ muscovi"e &nor"%i"e *!l&#iocl&se+ "remoli"e *&m!%i)ole+ &n"%o!%$lli"e
*or"%o&m!%i)o le+

IM

colourless

12-28 *Mic%elLev$+

.0-70, -ve or -ve Uni -ve

some"imes r&(i&"in# %e2&#on&l, s"ri!e(, or un"winne(. /l)i"e "wins &lon# len#"%, &lso C&rls)&( - o"%ers r&re /l)i"e "wins &lon# len#"%, &lso C&rls)&( - o"%ers r%om)ic l&mell&e /l)i"e "wins &lon# len#"%, &lso C&rls)&( - o"%ers

Eu%e(r&l 2ls )loc0$ % &n%e(r&l. O1"en clou($ sc&rce elsew%ere. Mos"l$ 1oun( in low-!r i(en"i1$ - o1"en loo0s li co&rse #r&ine( roc0s. %&loes &roun( 4ircons

IM S IM

colourless colourless

In i#neous roc0s, o1"en i#neous roc0s o1"en re rims. /n-ric% cores m& 'winnin# (is"inc"ive - o Usu&ll$ irre#ul&r #r&in

28-37 *Mic%elLev$+

.0-70, -ve or -ve Uni -ve

IM S IM

colourless colourless

low "o mo( low -

In i#neous roc0s o1"en Cr$s"&ls in i#neous ro /)-ric% rims. /n-ric% c 'winnin# (is"inc"ive - o Relie1 usu&ll$ c%&n#es sec"ion unless s"&ine(

,0-52 *Mic%elLev$+ 0 52*Mic%elLev$+ c&.20 0

80-70 -ve 30-,0, -ve 80-70 -ve 80-88, -ve .0-70, -ve

IM S M M M

colourless. colourless colourless colourless

low low me( me( -

In i#neous roc0s o1"en Cr$s"&ls in i#neous ro /)-ric% rims. /n-ric% c 'winnin# (is"inc"ive - o 1l&0es wi"% 1 !er1ec" c - m&n$ me"&mor!%ic

/l)i"e "wins &lon# len#"%, &lso C&rls)&( - o"%ers

/nor"%i"e commoner in 4one(. 'winnin# (is"in

Cr$s"&ls usu&ll$ elon# m&r)les+. En( sec"ion cle&v&#e &lon# len#"%

In M#-ric% me"& roc0s !&r&llel e2"inc"ion. Len

John Faithfull 1998

Mineral

IM S IM

Colour in TS etc COLOURLESS *con"(+ colourless "o !in0is%

RI

Relief

Extinction

Int. Figure

Birefr.

Twinning etc.

Notes

1..,1.81 1or mos" colourle ss#&rne" s

v. %i#% -

ISO'RO8IC

In wi(e r&n#e o1 me"& roc0 m&$ %&ve 6 or 8 si(es in "% )io"i"e e"c, w%ic% m&$ s%ow

#&rne" IM 4ircon colourless *usu&ll$+ 1.722.01 v. %i#% 0 Uni -ve 9i#% u! "o III or(er

cr$s"&ls usu&ll$ "in$ or sm& <ire1r. Lower "%&n "i"&ni"e. se(imen"s.

John Faithfull 1998

Name

IM S

Colour in TS etc. =REE> ?ELLO@

RI

Relief

Extinction

Int. Figure

Birefr.

Twinning etc.

Notes

IM

(ee! #ol(en $ellowA "o )rown or )l&c0A m&$ )e o!&3ue.

2.602.70

e2"re me -

Uni, -

e2"reme, )u" m&s0e( )$ colour

M&inl$ seen in co&rse-# )e&rin#+. /lso in o"%er i# E2"reme relie1, in"ense c

ru"ile

John Faithfull 1998

Name

IM S

Colour in TS etc. <RO@> 8UR8LE, LIL/C or <LUE

RI

Relief

Extinction

Int. Figure

Birefr.

Twinning etc.

Notes

in0$ )lue-)l&c0 "o mu(($ )rownA m&r0e(l$ !leoc%roic

1.611..1

mo( %i#% -

usu&ll$ B 30 "o lon# cle&v&#e

v&ri&)le -ve or -ve.

Low-mo( )u" m&s0e( )$ in"ense colour.

Usu&ll$ in i#neous roc0s i !l&"es r&"%er "%&n eu%e(r&

>& &m!%i)oles

John Faithfull 1998

Name

IM S IM

Colour in TS etc. REC or 8I>D ver$ in"ense "ur)i( #re$ or #re$is% )rown

RI

Relief

Extinction

Int. Figure

Birefr.

Twinning etc.

Notes

e2"reme, )u" %&r( "o see (ue "o 1ine #r&in si4e.

/lw&$s !seu(omor!%s Ee #&))ros.

5leuco2ene5 5limoni"e5

IM S

(ee! )rown, ne&rl$ o!&3ue

Usu&ll$ 1ine-#r&ine( ver$ (

John Faithfull 1998

emem'er! the tables on previous pages give only a slection of the more common minerals. )rief properties of a few additional minerals are given below. 9ou may wish to cross reference these to fuller descriptions in your favourite te(tbook. Some additional colourless igneous minerals!
leucite! "feldspathoid$ moderate 0ve relief< very low dark grey birefringence shows comple( twinning, a bit like microcline. =henocrysts in ultra0potassic lavas. >nce seen never forgotten. sodalite! "feldspathoid$ low0mod 0ve relief. Isotropic. ;uhedral (ls or irreg. grains in 1a0rich syenites and trachytes. >ften blue in hand specimens. cancrinite! "feldspathoid$ low0mod 0ve relief. Irregular or slighly elongate grains with nepheline. Mod. )irefr! up to mid II order 0 bright for such an inconspicuous colourless mineral. Common minor phase in nepheline syenites. sanidine! "feldspar$ low 0ve relief. ?ls usually clear. )irefr. low! up to pale grey. ;(tinction parallel to cleavage, but not to long (l sides. %6 low! ,0#% 0ve. Carlsbad twins common. 8sually phenocrysts in trachytes and rhyolites. anorthoclase! "feldspar$ low 0ve relief. )irefr. 4ow! up to pale grey. %6 ., 0ve "only feldspar like this$< may show very fine grained cross0hatched twinning "like microcline$. =henocrysts in alkaline lavas etc. melilite! mod @ve relief. 4ath0like (ls "like plagioclase shape$, often with indented sides. 4ow birefr., often anomalous blue. =arallel e(tinction. 8nia(ial 0ve. In Si0deficient igneous rocks, with nepheline, augite, olivine, leucite, perovskite phlogopite! "mica$ moderate @ve relief< platy, perfect cleavage< colourless to pale brown, slightly pleochroic. III order birefringence. =arallel e(tinction. Mostly in meta limestones, plus A0 rich ultrabasic igneous rocks. &ollastonite! mod0high @ve relief. Columnar or fibrous aggregates. )irefr up to I order orange. ;(tinction parallel "cf tremolite$. *are in igneous rocks! in carbonatites and some iBolites. topa(! mod0high @ve relief. 8sually anhedral in TS. )irefr like uartC, but %6 .,. # perfect cleavage. 'ranites and rhyolites, with tourmaline, fluorite and muscovite. pigeonite! "clinopyro(ene$ mod0high @ve relief. Stout prismatic (ls in tholeiitic basalts and andesites, also irregular grains in gabbros and dolerites. May invert to op( host with cp( lamellae or blebs. )irefr. mod! up to II order. %6 low! ,0+, "distinctive$. >ften twinned. ;(tinction angle %,0+, to cleavage. mona(ite! high @ve relief. 8sually small or tiny stout prismatic (ls looking like titanite. )irefr. 8p to I6 order, but may be very low due to radiation damage. Dispersion r E v on isogyres "cf titanite r F v$. In granites and carbonatites.

Some additional colourless metamorphic minerals!

scapolite! low0mod @ve relief. Columnar (ls or poikilitic plates. )irefr. up to mid II order "high for an inconspicuous mineral$. ;(tinction parallel to (ls or cleavage. 8nia(ial 0ve. Metabasites and marbles. talc! low0mod @ve relief. 4ooks like mica 0 perfect cleavage. Gigh birefr. up to III order. Gard to tell from muscovite, but assocd with Mg rich minerals, and soapy in hand specimen. phlogopite! "mica$ moderate @ve relief< platy, perfect cleavage< colourless to pale brown, slightly pleochroic. III order birefringence. =arallel e(tinction. Mostly in meta limestones, plus A0 rich ultrabasic igneous rocks. )adeite! "clinopyro(ene$ mod0high @ve. 'ranular or fibrous aggregates, or rough grains. 'ood (ls very rare. )irefr, mod! up to mid II order. ;(tinction up to ++ to cleavage. %6 H, @ve. In high0pressure "blueschist2eclogite facies$ meta rocks. la&sonite! *elief mod @ ve. >ften as late euhedral rhomb0shaped or rectangular porphyroblasts, often inlcusion rich, in blueschists. May resemble colourless epidote, bit lower birefringence! up to mid II order. (oisite! "epidote group$ relief high @ve. ;longate grains or aggregates. # cleavage along length. =arallel e(tinction. 1ormally shows deep blue anomalous interference colour. In metabasites and metacalcareous rocks. clino(oisite! "epidote group$ relief high @ve. ;longate grains or aggregates. # cleavage along length. =arallel e(tinction. )irefringence anomalous! blue0grey and greenish yellow "hard to describe, but easy to remember once seen$. Mostly in metabasites and metacalcareous rocks. wollastonite! vesuvianite! siderite!

prehnite! pumpellyite! pectolite! Ceolite! gypsum! barite! anhydrite! corundum! *elief high to v. high @ve. =rismatic, tabular or skeletal crystals common. May have faint blue, yellow or pink Cones. *hombohedral parting2cleavage common. )irefr. weak, but often up to low II order due to e(tra thickness of ultra0hard corundum (ls. =arallel e(tinction in long (ls. Twinning common. 8nia(ial 0ve. In hornfelses, high grade pelites and syenitic gneisses. green sediments! glauconite, chamosite green metamorphic! Badeite, pumpellyite, chloritoid 'ro&n igneous! perovskite, allanite 'ro&n metamorphic! stilpnomelane 'ro&n sediments! siderite, sphalerite yello&! monaCite, siderite,corundum, piemontite 'lue! corundum red*pink! piemontite, corundum opa ues general guide to pyro(enes general guide to amphiboles staining and carbonates "ferroan calcite, Mg0calcite, dolomite, aragonite etc..$.