APATITE

General Formula: System:

Sample: PT-10C
Ca5(PO4)3(F,OH,Cl) Hexagonal

Hexagonal and elongated

Hexagonal and
Apatite needles
elongated Apatite
The hexagonal grains are
needles
cross sections of apatite
Fine grained hexagonal
needles, cut perpendicular
and elongated needles Block diagram showing the
to the long axis which also
of apatite included in relationship between the
corresponds to the c
plagioclase and crystallographic axes and the indicatrix
crystallographic axis and
clinopyroxene within an axes.
the optic axis, thus the
olivine diabase.
needles appear black.
The long axis of the
The long axis of the image
image is 0.9 mm, plane
is 0.9 mm,crossed polar
light view
view
 Optical Properties

Colour usually colourless Form small euhedral to

Pleochroism non pleochroic in thin subhedral elongate
section prismatic crystals with
hexagonal cross sections
are most common, also
found as anhedral grains
and granular or columnar
aggregates
Relief/ moderate high Cleavage poor basal and prismatic,
RI positive not readily visible in thin
nw = 1.633-1.667 section
ne = 1.629-1.665
Birefringence 0.001 - 0.007 Twinning rare
Interference first order grey
Colours
Interference uniaxial Optic elongate sections show
Figure negative Orientation parallel extinction and are
Optic Sign length fast
2V
Composition widest variation in Alteration stable in most geologic
composition is environments
associated with the
hydroxyl site, e.g. F
for OH for Cl
Occurrence present as an Distinguishing moderate to high relief,
accessory in a wide Features low birefringence and
variety of igneous and uniaxial character
metamorphic rocks
and as detrital grains
in sedimentary rocks
 CALCITE
General Formula: System:
Sample: M-24
CaCO3 Hexagonal (trigonal)

Calcite
Calcite
Irregular calcite crystals within
Extreme inteference
a marble. Note the Block diagram showing the
colours of calcite and the
rhombohedral cleavage relationship between the
presence of twinning in
displayed by the grain just left crystallographic axes and the
the top right grain.
of center. indicatrix axes.
Field of View = 2.7 mm,
Field of View = 2.7 mm, plane
crossed polars
light

Optical Properties

Colour colourless Form variety of habits, but

Pleochroism non pelochroic usually coinsist of
scalenohedron and
rhombohedron
combinations. In most
rocks calcite forms
anhedral grains or grain
aggregates
Relief moderate negative to Cleavage perfect rhombohedral
RI high positive, marked cleavage, angle between
change with stage cleavages 74°57'
 rotation
nw = 1.658
ne = 1.486
Birefringence 0.172 Twinning lamellar twins parallel to
Interference extreme, creamy high one edge of the cleavage
Colours order colours rhomb or along the long
diagonal of the rhomb

Interference uniaxial Optic extinction is inclined or

Figure negative Orientation symmetrical to cleavage
Optic Sign traces, the fast ray is
2V parallel to the short
diagonal of the
rhombohedral faces
Composition dominantly CaCO3, Alteration altered to dolomite
but substitution of Mg, during diagenesis,
Fe, Mn, or Zn and calcite is soluble in
minor Sr and Ba natural waters and may
be removed by solution
Occurrence common and Distinguishing cleavage, variable relief,
widespread as a major Features extreme interference
mineral in limestones, colours
and an accessory in
igneous, metamorphic
and sedimentary rocks
 NEPHELINE
General Formula: Sample: System:
Na3K(Al4Si4O16) Nepheline Syenite Hexagonal

TITLE TITLE Block diagram showing the relationship

DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION between the crystallographic axes and the
SCALE SCALE indicatrix axes.

Optical Properties

Colour colourless Form anhedral to sudhedral in

Pleochroism non pleochroic intrusive rocks, subhedral
to euhedral in extrusive
rocks
Relief low negative to low Cleavage rarely seen in thin section,
RI positive irregular fractures
nw = 1.529-1.546
ne = 1.526-1.544
Birefringence 0.003 - 0.005 Twinning not observed
Interference first order grey
Colours
Interference uniaxial Optic longitudinal sections
Figure negative Orientation through euhedral crystals
Optic Sign as length fast, with
2V parallel extinction
Composition most nepheline has a Alteration alters to clay minerals,
3:1 ratio of Na:K. At analcime, sodalite,
high temperatures calcite, and cancrinite
 complete solid solution
exists between pure
nepheline (100% Na)
and kalsilite (100% K)
Occurrence common in syenite, Distinguishing low relief, looks like
nepheline syenite and Features quartz but may be altered
related alkalic rocks. and is uniaxial negative
Nepehiline is never
associated with
primary quartz.
 QUARTZ
General Formula: System:
Sample: M-20
SiO2 Hexagonal (trigonal)

Orthoquartzite
Subrounded quartz
Orthoquartzite
grains cemented in
Note the variety of
a matrix of silica.
orientations present Block diagram showing the
The grain
in the randomly relationship between the
boundaries are
oriented quartz crystallographic axes and the
clearly marked by
grains. indicatrix axes.
the fine grained
Field of View 2.7
inclusions.
mm, crossed polars
Field of View 2.7
mm, plane light

Optical Properties

Colour colourless Form typically anhedral to

Pleochroism non-pleochroic highly irregular in
igneous and
metamorphic rocks.
Detritial grains are
are more or less
equant.
Relief/ low positive relief Cleavage not observed
RI nw = 1.544
ne = 1.553
Birefringence 0.009 Twinning non observed
Interference Maximum interference
Colours colour range up to first
order white, with a tinge
of yellow
Interference unixial positive, but Optic optic axis is the c
Figure/ strained displaying Orientation axis. Elongate
Optic Sign undulatory extinction may crystals cut from end
2V show a biaxial to end are length
interference figure with a slow.
small separation of the
isogyres.
Composition essentially pure SiO2, Alteration not readily altered
although trace amounts of and is very stable in
Ti, Fe, Mn, Al may be weathering
present. environments.
Occurrence one of the most widely Distinguishing low relief, low
abundant minerals, Features birefringence, lack of
present in a wide variety cleavage, uniaxial
of environments. positive.
 TOURMALINE
System:
General Formula:
Sample: PT-123 Hexagonal
Na(Mg,Fe,Li,Al)3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH,F)4
(trigonal)

Radiating Tourmaline
Radiating Tourmaline
The extinction of the
The range of pleochroic colours displayed Block diagram
individual grains varies
by the radiating tourmaline crystals is showing the
across the grain
evident. Note that the grains exhibit their relationship
aggregate, when the
lightest and darkest pleochroic colour when between the
long axis is parallel to
the long axis is parallel and perpendicluar, crystallographic
the polars the grain is
respectively, to the lower polar vibration axes and the
extinct.
direction (N-S). indicatrix axes.
Field of View 2.7 mm,
Field of View 2.7 mm, plane light
crossed polars

Optical Properties

Colour highly variable, blue, Form euhedral, stubby

Pleochroism green, pink, yellow columnar to acicular
stongly pleochroic with crystals with a
w > e, basal sections are rounded triangular
uniformly dark. to crudely hexagonal
cross section
Relief moderate to high positive Cleavage poorly developed,
RI nw = 1.631-1.968 fractures are
ne = 1.610-1.675 conchoidal
Birefringence 0.015-0.035 Twinning rare
Interference Colours up to upper second order,
but commonly masked
by mineral's colour
Interference Figure uniaxial Optic longitudinal sections
Optic Sign negative Orientation show parallel
2V extinction and are
length fast
Composition highly variable, RI and Alteration fairly stable in
birefringence increase weathering
generally with increasing environments
Fe
Occurrence characteristic mineral in Distinguishing crystal habit, distinct
granites and related Features pleochrosm.
rocks, in schists, gneisses Tourmaline exhibits
and phyllites and as a its darkest
detrital mineral pleochroic colour
when the long axis
of the grain is
aligned
perpendicular to the
lower polar.
 ZIRCON
General Formula: System:
Sample: GB 12
ZrSiO4 Tetragonal

Zircon
Zircon
The same image as that on
Euhedral zircon grain within
the left, the high
a granitic gneiss. Note the Block diagram showing the
interference colours of the
highly fractured nature of relationship between the
zircon grain are not
the grain and the very strong crystallographic axes and the
readily evident in this
relief. indicatrix axes.
image,
Field of View 1 mm, plane
Field of View 1 mm,
light
crossed polars

Optical Properties

Colour colourless to pale Form euhedral to sudhedral

Pleochroism brown tetragonal crystals with
weakly pleochroic pyramidal terminations

Relief very high positive Cleavage not usually seen in thin

RI nw = 1.920-1.960 section
ne = 1.967-2.015
Birefringence 0.036-0.065 Twinning not twinned
Interference up to third or fourth
Colours order
Interference uniaxial Optic elongate grains are
Figure positive Orientation length slow with
Optic Sign parallel extinction
2V
Composition significant Hf for Zr Alteration does not readily alter
and minor U and Th
Occurrence common accessory Distinguishing small, high-relief grains
mineral in felsic rocks Features with bright interference
and less common in colours
mafic rocks, common in
metamorphic rocks
derived from clastic
sediments, common
detritial mineral