Introduction to Optical Mineralogy

by Nesse, William D.

• ISBN13: 9780195060249
• ISBN10: 0195060245
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1991-02-21
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This is an ideal textbook for both advanced undergraduates and graduate students. It contains valuable coverage of the optical properties of minerals, as well as up-to-date descriptions of common rock-forming minerals. The chapters on optical theory include discussions of the nature and properties of light, the petrographic microscope, and the behavior of light in isotropic materials and in uniaxial and biaxial anisotropic materials. Thoroughly revised to include recent developments in the field, the book includes step-by-step procedures to guide students through the determination of all optical properties by which minerals are routinely identified with a petrographic microscope. Readers will find descriptive information on over 125 common rock forming minerals, and many photomicrographs and illustrations. The book also includes a flow sheet to guide students through the process of identifying an unknown mineral.

Author Biography

William D. Nesse is Professor of Geology at the University of Northern Colorado.

Table of Contents

1. Light	3	(13)
The Nature of Light	3	(1)
Electromagnetic Radiation	3	(2)
Phase	5	(2)
The Perception of Color	7	(1)
Interaction of Light and Matter	7	(6)
Polarized Light	13	(3)
2. The Petrographic Microscope	16	(9)
Illuminator	16	(1)
Substage Assembly	17	(1)
Microscope Stage	17	(1)
Objective Lenses	17	(2)
Upper Polar	19	(1)
Bertrand Lens	19	(1)
Ocular	19	(1)
Focusing Mechanism	20	(1)
Accessories	20	(1)
Additional Equipment	20	(1)
General Care of the Microscope	20	(1)
Adjustment of the Microscope	21	(3)
General Considerations	24	(1)
3. Refractometry	25	(9)
Relief	25	(1)
Becke Line Method	26	(4)
Oblique Illumination Method	30	(1)
Practical Considerations	31	(1)
Accuracy of the Immersion Method	32	(1)
Determining Indices in Thin Section	33	(1)
4. Optics of Isotropic Materials	34	(3)
Isotropic Indicatrix	34	(1)
Distinguishing Between Isotropic and Anisotropic Minerals	34	(1)
Identification of Isotropic Minerals in Grain Mount	35	(1)
Identification of Isotropic Minerals in Thin Section	36	(1)
5. Optics of Anisotropic Minerals: Introduction	37	(16)
Interference Phenomena	38	(5)
Determining Thickness of a Sample	43	(2)
Determining Birefringence from the Color Chart	45	(1)
Recognizing the Different Orders of Interference Colors	46	(1)
Extinction	46	(2)
Use of the Accessory Plates	48	(2)
Sign of Elongation	50	(1)
Relief	50	(1)
Pleochroism	51	(2)
6. Uniaxial Optics	53	(24)
Optic Sign	54	(1)
Crystallographic Considerations	54	(1)
Uniaxial Indicatrix	55	(2)
Birefringence and Interference Colors	57	(3)
Extinction	60	(5)
Pleochroism	65	(1)
Interference Figure	65	(8)
Selecting Grains to Give Interference Figures	73	(1)
Determining Indices of Refraction	73	(4)
7. Biaxial Optics	77	(35)
Biaxial Indicatrix	77	(3)
Use of the Indicatrix	80	(6)
Crystallographic Orientation of Indicatrix Axes	86	(1)
Biaxial Interference Figure	87	(8)
Determining Optic Sign	95	(4)
Determining 2V	99	(4)
Selecting Grains to Produce Interference Figures	103	(1)
Other Optical Properties of Biaxial Minerals	104	(4)
Dispersion in Biaxial Minerals	108	(4)
8. Identification of Minerals	112	(7)
Descriptive Features	112	(1)
Cleavage	112	(1)
Twinning	112	(1)
Alteration	113	(1)
Association	113	(1)
Tactics	114	(2)
Opaque Minerals	116	(1)
Non-minerals	116	(3)
9. Native Elements, Sulfides, Halides, Oxides, and Hydroxides	119	(22)
Native Elements	119	(1)
Sulfur	119	(1)
Graphite	120	(1)
Sulfides	120	(3)
Pyrite	120	(1)
Sphalerite	121	(1)
Pyrrhotite	122	(1)
Chalcopyrite	122	(1)
Halides	123	(1)
Halite	123	(1)
Sylvite	123	(1)
Fluorite	124	(1)
Oxides	124	(7)
Periclase	124	(1)
Rutile	125	(1)
Anatase	126	(1)
Cassiterite	127	(1)
Corundum	127	(2)
Hematite	129	(1)
Ilmenite	130	(1)
Perovskite	130	(1)
The Spinel Group	131	(3)
Spinel Series	132	(1)
Magnetite	133	(1)
Chromite	133	(1)
Hydroxides	134	(7)
Brucite	134	(1)
Gibbsite	135	(1)
Diaspore	136	(1)
Boehmite	137	(1)
Goethite	138	(1)
Lepidocrocite	139	(1)
Limonite	139	(2)
10. Carbonates, Borates, Sulfates, and Phosphates	141	(24)
Carbonates	141	(10)
Calcite	142	(2)
Magnesite	144	(1)
Siderite	145	(1)
Rhodochrosite	146	(1)
Dolomite-Ankerite	147	(1)
Aragonite	148	(1)
Strontianite	149	(1)
Witherite	150	(1)
Borates	151	(3)
Borax	151	(2)
Colemanite	153	(1)
Sulfates	154	(5)
Barite	154	(1)
Celestite (Celestine)	155	(1)
Gypsum	156	(1)
Anhydrite	157	(1)
Alunite	158	(1)
Phosphates	159	(6)
Apatite	159	(2)
Monazite	161	(1)
Xenotime	162	(3)
11. Orthosilicates	165	(22)
Olivine	165	(2)
Monticellite	167	(1)
Humite Group	168	(2)
Garnet Group	170	(3)
Andalusite	173	(1)
Sillimanite	174	(2)
Kyanite	176	(1)
Staurolite	177	(2)
Chloritoid	179	(1)
Titanite (Sphene)	180	(2)
Topaz	182	(1)
Zircon	183	(2)
Dumortierite	185	(2)
12. Sorosilicates and Cyclosilicates	187	(16)
Sorosilicates	187	(12)
Lawsonite	187	(1)
Pumpellyite	188	(2)
Melilite	190	(1)
Vesuvianite (Idocrase)	191	(1)
Epidote Group	192	(1)
Zoisite	192	(2)
Clinozoisite-Epidote	194	(2)
Piemontite	196	(1)
Allanite	197	(2)
Cyclosilicates	199	(4)
Tourmaline	199	(2)
Axinite	201	(2)
13. Inosilicates	203	(38)
Pyroxenes	203	(13)
Orthopyroxene (Enstatite-Orthoferrosilite)	205	(2)
Pigeonite	207	(2)
Calcic Clinopyroxene (Augite)	209	(2)
Acmite (Aegirine), Aegirine-augite	211	(2)
Omphacite	213	(1)
Jadeite	214	(2)
Spodumene	216	(1)
Amphiboles	216	(18)
Anthophyllite	218	(2)
Gedrite	220	(2)
Cummingtonite-Grunerite	222	(1)
Tremolite-Actinolite	223	(2)
Hornblende	225	(2)
Oxyhornblende	227	(1)
Kaersutite	228	(1)
Richterite	229	(1)
Arfvedsonite and Eckermanite	230	(2)
Glaucophane-Riebeckite Series	232	(2)
Other Inosilicates	234	(7)
Sapphirine	234	(1)
Wollastonite	235	(1)
Rhodonite	236	(2)
Pectolite	238	(3)
14. Phyllosilicates	241	(20)
Clay Minerals	242	(1)
Glauconite	243	(1)
Serpentine	244	(2)
Pyrophyllite	246	(1)
Talc	247	(1)
Muscovite	248	(1)
Biotite	249	(2)
Lepidolite	251	(1)
Stilpnomelane	252	(2)
Margarite	254	(1)
Clintonite	255	(1)
Chlorite	256	(2)
Prehnite	258	(1)
Apophyllite	259	(2)
15. Tectosilicates	261	(42)
Silica group	261	(6)
Quartz	261	(1)
Chalcedony	262	(2)
Tridymite	264	(1)
Cristobalite	265	(1)
Opal	266	(1)
Volcanic Glass	266	(1)
Feldspars	267	(18)
Plagioclase	268	(9)
Alkali feldspars	277	(3)
Microcline	280	(2)
Orthoclase	282	(1)
Sanidine	283	(1)
Adularia	284	(1)
Anorthoclase	284	(1)
Feldspathoids	285	(5)
Nepheline	285	(1)
Sodalite Group	286	(1)
Leucite	287	(2)
Cancrinite-Vishnevite	289	(1)
Zeolites	290	(6)
Analcime	290	(1)
Natrolite	291	(1)
Thomsonite	292	(1)
Stilbite	293	(1)
Chabazite	293	(1)
Heulandite	294	(1)
Laumontite	295	(1)
Other Tectosilicates	296	(7)
Scapolite	296	(1)
Beryl	297	(1)
Cordierite	298	(5)
Appendix A: Sample Preparation	303	(2)
Grain Mount	303	(1)
Thin Section	303	(1)
Spindle Stage	304	(1)
Appendix B: Ray Velocity Surfaces	305	(6)
Isotropic Ray Velocity Surface	305	(1)
Uniaxial Ray Velocity Surface	305	(1)
Biaxial Ray Velocity Surface	305	(1)
Use of Ray Velocity Surfaces	306	(5)
Appendix C: Identification Tables	311	(14)
C.1. Color in thin section	315	(2)
C.2. Opaque minerals	317	(1)
C.3. Index of refraction of isotropic or nearly isotropic minerals	317	(1)
C.4. Indices of refraction of uniaxial minerals	317	(1)
C.5. Indices of refraction of biaxial negative minerals arranged in order of increasing n(Beta)	318	(1)
C.6. Indices of refraction of biaxial positive minerals arranged in order of increasing n(Beta)	319	(2)
C.7. Birefringence	321	(2)
C.8. Minerals that may display anomalous interference colors	323	(1)
C.9. Isometric minerals that may display anomalous birefringence	323	(1)
C.10. Tetragonal and hexagonal minerals that may be anomalously biaxial	323	(1)
C.11. Normally birefringent minerals that may be sensibly isotropic	323	(1)
C.12. Biaxial minerals that may be sensibly uniaxial	323	(1)
C.13. Minerals that may produce pleochroic halos in surrounding minerals	323	(2)
Mineral Index	325	(5)
Subject Index	330	(7)
INTERFERENCE COLOR CHART	337	(1)
INDEX OF REFRACTION VS. BIREFRINGENCE	338