Smith College - Geology 222b - Petrology

Petrographic Data File

Quartz
Property Value Comments

Formula SiO2

Crystal System hexagonal

prismatic hexagonal crystals with

horizontally striated faced;
Crystal Habit
sometimes appears dursy: twinning
common

Cleavage seldom distinct

Color/Pleochroism colorless, white, purple, yellow, brown, pink, blue

Optic Sign Uniaxial (+)

Refractive
Indices
1.544
omega =
1.553
epsilon =

Max
0.009
Birefringence

Distinguishing
uniaxial; low relief; low birefringence
Features

Quartz is extremly common and can be found in many types of igneous,

Occurrence
sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Editors Christine Raczka (MHC '08), Caroline Hackett (Smith '14)

Photomicrograph of quartz under plane polarized light. The

rollover image shows the wave type of extinction that is
common in Quartz.

Photomicrographic image of quartz under crossed polarized

light. The rollover displays the same grain under plain polarized
light. Poor cleavage is visible in both images. Note the low
relief seen under plain polarized light.

Undulatory extinction is a common feature of quartz. The

rollover image displays the same grain with rotation. Notice,
the entire grain never goes completely extinct at once.

Return to Petrography Index