Optical Mineralogy

Lab 14 – Fall, 2012

Biaxial Interference Figures

1
Parts of a biaxial interference figure

Position of high illumination 2

 Biaxial Sign: Bxa Figures
• To determine the optic sign of a biaxial
mineral from a BXA figure, position the
isogyres so that the melatopes are in the NE
and SW quadrants
• There should be an area near the melatopes
that shows a 1o gray interference color
• Observe this area as you insert the 550nm
or 1o red compensator
3
Biaxial Sign: Bxa Figures
• If the 1o gray area in
region between the
two isogyres turns
yellow, the mineral is
biaxial positive
• If the 1o gray area
inside of both the
isogyres turns yellow
the mineral is biaxial
negative
4
Note where addition and subtraction of interference colors happen to
determine the optic sign of the figure. Addition inside the isogyre is
positive. Subtraction inside the isogyre is negative.
Apply same criteria for uniaxial figure. Remember fo mica plate, where
your dark circles are, that is where you have subtraction

Subtraction

Addition

5
 Biaxial Sign: Centered OA
Figures
• Optic axis figures probably provide the easiest
method for determination of optic sign because
grains with an orientation that would produce an
OA figure are perhaps the easiest to find
• Place the isogyre so that the inside of the isogyre
is in the NE quadrant
• Find the area that shows 1o gray close to the
melatope
• Observe this area as the 550 nm compensator plate
is inserted
6
Biaxial Sign: Centered OA
Figures
• If the area outside of
the isogyre turns
yellow, the mineral is
biaxial positive
• If the area inside the
isogyre turns yellow,
the mineral is biaxial
negative

7
 Biaxial Sign: Off-Centered
Bxa or OA Figures
• Probably even easier to locate are off-
centered OA or BXA interference figures
• Position the isogyre so that it fits best in
either the NE or SW quadrant
• Observe the gray area near the melatope
and note the color change on insertion of
the 550 nm compensator

8
Biaxial Sign: Off-Centered
Bxa or OA Figures
• If the gray area outside
the isogyre turns
yellow, the mineral is
biaxial positive
• If the gray area outside
isogyre turns blue and
the gray area inside
the isogyre turns
yellow, the mineral is
biaxial negative
9
 Estimation of 2V
• Precise determination of 2V can only be
made by determining the 3 principal
refractive indices of the mineral
• 2V can be estimated from Bxa and OA
figures using the diagrams shown here

10
 2V Estimation: Bxa Figure
• For a BXA figure the distance between the
melatopes is proportional to the 2V angle
• To estimate the 2V from a BXA figure, it is
necessary to know the numerical aperture (N.A.)
of the objective lens used to observe the
interference figure
• The microscopes in our labs have an N.A. of
between 0.65 and 0.85

11
 2V Estimation: Bxa
Figure
• The diagram shown here
gives a visual estimate of the
2V angle for objective lenses
with these two values of N.A.
for a mineral with a 
refractive index of 1.6

12
 2V Estimation: Bxa Figure
• Remember that if the 2V is 0o the mineral is
uniaxial, and would thus show the uniaxial
interference figure
• The separation of the isogyres or melatopes
increases with 2V and the isogyres
eventually go outside of the field of view
for a 2V of 50o with the smaller N.A., and
about 60o for the larger N.A
13
http://shomusbiology.com

14
 2V Estimation: Bxa Figure
• Since the maximum 2V
that can be observed for a
Bxa figure depends on the
 refractive index, the
chart shown here may be
useful to obtain more
precise estimates if the 
refractive index is known
As  increases, the maximum or can be measured
observable 2V decreases

15
2V Estimation: OA Figure
• 2V estimates can be made
on an optic axis figure by
noting the curvature of the
isogyres and referring to
the diagram shown here
• Note that the curvature is
most for low values of 2V
and decreases to where the
isogyre essentially forms a
straight line across the
field of view for a 2V of
90o
16
Numerical
aperture

15º 30º

45º 60º

Fig. 7-51
 Optic axis figure
• Curvature of the isogyre depends on 2V
• If 2V = 90º, the isogyre is a straight line
• If 2V = 0º, the isogyre forms a cross – it is
uniaxial
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.slidesh
are.net%2FShivamJain77%2Finterference-colour-and-interference-figur
es
Dr Sagar, Central University 19
Dispersion in Biaxial Minerals
The variation in the size of the 2V angle is
called optic axis dispersion.

The variation in the orientation of the

indicatrix is referred to as indicatrix or
bisectrix dispersion.

Dispersion is visible as colour fringes

developed along the isogyres of the
interference figure. Depending on the
intensity of the colour fringes, the dispersion
is weak, moderate or strong.
This fringing is due to the variation of the
refractive indices of α, β, and γ (Nx, Ny, Nz)
with respect to wavelength

20