Amphibole

Glaucophane

UNC sample
?
Rock type
blueschist
Locality
unknown

Note the purple to blue-gray pleochroism in the glaucophane in this

slide.

Glaucophane

UNC sample
?
Rock type
blueschist
Locality
unknown

Note the anomalous blue-gray interference colors in the glaucophane in

this slide.

Amphibole

Hornblende

UNC sample
W-86
Rock type
hornblende-cpx
schist
Locality
unknown

Note the characteristic ~120 degree cleavage angles in some sections and
the brown to green. pleochroism.

Hornblende

UNC sample
W-86
Rock type
hornblendecpx schist
Locality
unknown

Note in some sections the ~120 degree cleavage angles which are
diagnostic of amphiboles.

Amphibole

Tremolite

UNC sample
W-88
Rock type
talc-tremolite
schist
Locality
unknown

Talc forms the fine-grained matrix between the prismatic crystals of

tremolite in this rock. Note the ~120 degree cleavages in some of the
tremolite sections.

Andalusite

UNC sample
NM-1
Rock type
andalusite-biotite
schist
Locality
New Mexico

This is an andalusite porphyroblast with poikiloblastic texture. Also note

how the foliation (oriented roughly N-S in this view) is wrapped around the
left and right corners of this grain, suggesting synkinematic growth of the
andalusite porphyroblast.

Mica

Biotite

UNC sample
GSR X0720
Rock type
garnet-mica
schist
Locality
unknown

Note the red-brown pleochroism and the characteristic black pleochroic

haloes (caused by radiation damage).

Biotite

UNC sample
GSR X0720
Rock type
garnet-mica
schist
Locality
unknown

Note the anomalous red interference color.

Mica

Muscovite

UNC sample
GSR 1540
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

Muscovite

UNC sample
GSR 1540
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

This grain is shown at maximum birefringnence.

Take a look at this grain at extinction to see muscovite's wonderful "bird's
eye" mottling.

Sericite (a fine-grained variety of muscovite)

UNC sample
BB-13
Rock type
Alaskite
Locality
Montana

The feldspars in this alaskite from the Boulder Batholith have been largely
replaced by fine-grained muscovite (sericite). In this rock, sericite is a
product of hydrothermal alteration.

Calcite

UNC sample
GSR X5321
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

Note the rhombohedral cleavage.

Calcite

UNC sample
GSR X5321
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

Note the rhombohedral cleavage and very high order interference colors.

Chlorite

UNC sample
MIC-5c
Rock type
chlorite schist
Locality
Michigan

Chlorite defines the foliation in this rock, which also shows some
crenulation cleavage.

Chloritoid

UNC sample
EU-310
Rock type
chloritoid schist
Locality
?

This plane-light view highlights the sector zoning in these chloritoid

porphyroblasts.

Chloritoid

UNC sample
EU-310
Rock type
chloritoid schist
Locality
?

These stubby crystals are chloritoid porphyroblasts. You can just barely see
the anomalous green interference color at the edge of some of the grains.
Despite the name, chloritoid really doesn't look anything like chlorite.

Ellenbergerite

UNC sample
TS-40
(K. Stewart)
Rock type
qtz-ky-gtmusc schist
Locality
Dora Maira
massif,
Parigi, Italy

The dark reddish-purple grain in the center of this photomicrograph is

ellenbergerite, an extremely rare, high-pressure Mg-Al-Ti-silicate, which
here forms an inclusion in nearly pure endmember pyrope garnet from the
famous Dora Maira massif of Italy.

Epidote

UNC sample
EU-81
Rock type
Biotite granite
gneiss
Locality
Moine, Scotland

Note the fairly high relief of epidote, the highly fractured mineral in this
photomicrograph.

Epidote

UNC sample
EU-81
Rock type
Biotite granite
gneiss
Locality
Moine, Scotland

Note the high-order interference colors of epidote. This slide is actually

cut a little thin, and doesn't show the third-order colors that epidote may
display in some sections.

Microcline (K-feldspar)

UNC sample
GSR X1540
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

Cross-hatched (or "tartan") twinning in microcline. Contrast this with

polysynthetic twinning in plagioclase feldspar.

Feldspar

Plagioclase

UNC sample
WR-51
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

This slide showcases one of plagioclase's very common features: its

polysynthetic twinning. Contrast this with twinning in microcline (Kfeldspar).

Garnet

UNC sample
GSR X0720
Rock type
garnet-mica
schist
Locality
unknown

Note the zonal distribution of quartz inclusions in this garnet

porphyroblast.

Garnet

UNC sample
GSR X0720
Rock type
garnet-mica
schist
Locality
unknown

Note the zonal distribution of quartz inclusions in this garnet

porphyroblast.

Kyanite

UNC sample
NC-349
Rock type
kyanite-garnetmica schist
Locality
near Durham,
NC

Note the prismatic habit of kyanite.

Kyanite

UNC sample
NC-349
Rock type
kyanite-garnetmica schist
Locality
near Durham,
NC

Note the first-order interference colors and prismatic habit of kyanite.

Leucite

UNC sample
1790 (card)
Rock type
leucite basalt
Locality
unknown

Leucite

UNC sample
1790 (card)
Rock type
leucite basalt
Locality
unknown

Note the nearly isotropic nature of these leucite grains.

Nepheline

UNC sample
H-99
Rock type
nepheline basalt
Locality
unknown

Many of the phenocrysts in this basalt are nepheline.

Olivine

UNC sample
W-44
Rock type
dunite
Locality
unknown

Almost all of the grains in this rock are olivine. Note the high order
interference colors and the minor secondary calcite.

Augite (Clinopyroxene)

UNC sample
in "norite" card
Rock type
clinopyroxenite
Locality
West Point, GA

Note the pigeonite twin lamellae in this grain. Pigeonite is a Ca-poor

clinopyroxene.

Augite (Clinopyroxene)

UNC sample
"norite" card
Rock type
clinopyroxenite
Locality
West Point, GA

Note the pigeonite twin lamellae in this grain. Pigeonite is a Ca-poor

clinopyroxene.
Besides clinopyroxene's 2nd order colors, another way to distinguish
clinopyroxene from orthopyroxene is by clinopyroxene's inclined
extinction.

Hypersthene (Orthopyroxene)

UNC sample
PP-12
Rock type
bronzitite
(orthopyroxenite)
Locality
Stillwater
complex, MT

Hypersthene can be identified from its characteristic rose-colored

pleochroism which is exhibited by the grain in the center.
Watch what happens to the color of this grain upon rotation of the
stage.

Hypersthene (Orthopyroxene)

UNC sample
PP-12
Rock type
bronzitite
(orthopyroxenite)
Locality
Stillwater complex,
MT

Orthopyroxenes are noted for having low, first-order interference

colors. Also note the cleavages that intersect at about 90 degrees.
Another identifying characteristic of orthopyroxene is its parallel
extinction.

Piemontite

UNC sample
?
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

Piemontite has beautiful rose to yellow pleochroism.

Piemontite

UNC sample
?
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

Piemontite has beautiful, high-order interference colors.

Quartz

UNC sample
GSR X1540
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

Quartz

UNC sample
GSR X1540
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

This slide shows quartz in a range of crystal orientations, all having lowfirst order interference colors.

Coesite

UNC sample
TS-41
(K. Stewart)
Rock type
qtz-ky-gt-musc
schist
Locality
Dora Maira
massif, Parigi,
Italy

Coesite (center of inclusion) and recrystallized quartz (borders of

inclusion) form a tiny inclusion in nearly pure endmember pyrope garnet
from the famous Dora Maira massif of Italy. The presence of coesite (a
high-pressure polymorph of quartz) indicates that this rock saw extremly
high pressures during metamorphism (probably more than 28 kbar).

Quartz after coesite

UNC sample
TS-42
(K. Stewart)
Rock type
qtz-ky-gt-musc
schist
Locality
Dora Maira
Massif, Parigi,
Italy

The region of coarser-grained quartz in the upper center portion of this

photomicrograph was probably originally occopied by coesite, the highpressure polymorph of quartz. Metamorphic rocks from the Dora Maira
Massif show other evidence of being exhumed from EXTREMELY
deep levels in thickened crust.

Staurolite

UNC sample
EU-17
Rock type
staurolitekyanite garnet-mica
schist
Locality
?

The "swiss cheese" look (i.e., poikiloblastic texture) of these

staurolite porphyroblasts is typical for this mineral. Also note
the strong banana yellow pleochroism.

Staurolite

UNC sample
EU-17
Rock type
staurolitekyanite garnet-mica
schist
Locality
?

The "swiss cheese" look (i.e., poikiloblastic texture) of these

staurolite porphyroblasts is typical for this mineral.

Stilpnomelane

UNC sample
L-11
Rock type
garnet-stilpmuscovite
schist
Locality
?

Stilpnomelane looks alot like biotite (same habit and color) but
lacks the "bird's eye" extinction that biotite displays. Actually,
the stilpnomelane in this slide has a more acicular habit than
most biotite.

Stilpnomelane

UNC sample
L-11
Rock type
garnet-stilpmuscovite
schist
Locality
?

Stilpnomelane looks alot like biotite (same habit and color) but
lacks the "bird's eye" extinction that biotite displays. Actually,
the stilpnomelane in this slide has a more acicular habit than
most biotite.

Talc

UNC sample
W-88
Rock type
talc-tremolite
schist
Locality
unknown

Talc forms the fine-grained matrix between the prismatic

crystals of tremolite in this rock. Note the fine-grain size and
the extremely high interference colors of the talc.

Titanite (Sphene)

UNC sample
EU-290
Rock type
syenite
Locality
?

Titanite typically forms wedge-shaped crystals like this one. Also

notice the extremely high relief.

Titanite (Sphene)

UNC sample
EU-290
Rock type
syenite
Locality
?

Titanite typically forms wedge-shaped crystals like this one. Also

notice the extremely high interference colors.

Tourmaline

UNC sample
?
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

This slide shows zoned trigonal cross-sections and elongate sections.

Note green to brown pleochroism. Tourmaline may also display bluish
pleochroism.

Tourmaline

UNC sample
?
Rock type
unknown
Locality
unknown

This slide shows extinct trigonal cross-sections and elongate sections

displaying maximum birefringence. The matrix is quartz.

Vesuvianite (Idocrase)

UNC sample
CA-75
Rock type
?
Locality
?

A fairly uninteresting photo here.

Vesuvianite (Idocrase)

UNC sample
CA-75
Rock type
?
Locality
?

Vesuvianite displays the deepest indigo blue anomalous

interference colors you've ever seen!