Lecture 16 (11/20/2006)

Analytical Mineralogy
Part 3:
Optical Properties of Biaxial
Minerals
 Optical Indicatrices
• A 3-d map of the indices of refraction for various vibration
directions of light rays
• Orientation of the indicatrix within a mineral is symmetrical with
the crystallographic axis

Isotropic Anisotropic – Uniaxial Anisotropic-

Biaxial
Isometric Tetragonal Orthorhombic
Hexagonal Monoclinic
Triclinic
 Biaxial Indicatrix
Principal
vibration
axes
greatest n

lowest n

intermediate n

< ’<<’<
Circular Sections and Optic Axes
Circular Optic
Section Plane

Optic
Axes

Circular
Section
2V and the Optic Sign
Trace of
Circular
Sections

+ -
 Random Section through the
Biaxial Indicatrix
Vibration Double
plane refraction
rays
parallel to
stage
 Variable
Birefringence
within a
=0
Biaxial
Mineral

=max
 Biaxial Optic Axis Figures

Look for a mineral with the

lowest interference colors,
i.e. ~0
Acute Bisectrix Figures (Bxa)

Melatope (emergence of optic axes)

Off-centered Bxa figure
Determining the Optic Sign of Biaxial Minerals
U
D

+
-
U D U

X
D

D U
+
-
U
D

U
D
X
’ is fast ray
 is intermediate
’ is slow ray
Estimating 2V by Curvature of
Isogyre
Estimating 2V by Separation of
Isogyres
 Extinction Angle

Symmetrical Parallel Inclined

 Sign of Elongation
Slowing down Interference
Example – Length slow the slow ray colors increase

slow
ray
 Next Lecture 11/22/06

Principles of X-ray Mineralogy

Read: Klein p. 309-321