Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003

LAB 1
Introduction to the petrographic microscope
Properties in PPL: Color, pleochroism, cleavage, habit
Properties in XPL: Twinning, oning
Learn these minerals: plagioclase, !"spars pol#morphs
$and loo% a bit at hornblende, p#ro&enes and olivine'
Be(ore starting an# e&ercise read the instructions) *hen as%ed to s%etch something,
be neat and do it as well as #ou can, indicate colors o( minerals, the mode o(
observation $XPL or PPL', and the magni(ication)
Introduction to the petrographic microscope
About Centering of the microscopes:
All microscopes should be centered. Centering is important to be able to recognie the
properties of minerals under the microscope properly. !ach of the lenses must be
centered "ith respect to the a#is of rotation of the microscope stage. $b%ecti&e lenses
are commonly mounted on a turret that can be rotated' ne&er' e&er rotate the turret
by pulling on the lenses.
(o" to recognie proper centering of the microscope:
Choose a small grain "ith the l$# ob%ecti&e and place it in the center of your field of
&ie" )indicated by the crosshairs in the ocular*. +t should remain on or &ery closely
around the crosshairs as you carefully turn the stage. Ad%ustment is done using the
,tage Centering -nobs situated at t"o o. cloc/ and ten o. cloc/0 be careful not to
touch them by accident "hen turning the microscope stage. ,hould the microscope
not be centered as/ your 1A for assistance.
223 &s. 423
+f light "a&es are coming at you in one plane only )using only one polarier* you see
5plane polaried light6 )223*. 7sing t"o polariers at 809 to each other' no light can
pass through' unless you ha&e something in bet"een to re:scatter the "a&es. 1he
cross polariers are called 5cross polaried light6 )423*
(o" to recognie if the polarier and the analyer are perpendicular to each other:
1o determine "hether the polarier and analyer ha&e their &ibration directions at
right angles' remo&e the thin section from the stage and insert the analyer. 7se a
medium po"er ob%ecti&e. 1he field "ill be blac/ if the nicols are crossed. +f not' call
for help.
;e careful about focusing<
=hile it is fine for lo" magnifications to %ust loo/ into the ocular as you focus the
slide' this procedure can be deadly under high magnification as you run the ris/ of
actually going through the thin section. 1hin sections are fragile and costly to
replace so please focus carefully. For high magnification al"ays close in on the slide
"atching from the outside and do the final focusing "ith the fine focusing /nob
)inner' more prominent /nob*.
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
=hat is the correct "ay of turning the ob%ecti&e lenses? )> 2oint*
(o" do you recognie that the microscope is properly centered? )> 2oint*
+X+,CI-+ 1: getting to %now #our microscope
+&ercise 1)1: =ith the analyer out' loo/ at a blan/ slide )or no slide*. =hat happens
"hen you put in the analyer?
+s there any change "hen you rotate the stage?
+&ercise 1).: Focus on a mineral grain and fill in the table belo". @ote "hich "ay the stage
mo&es "hen you turn the focusing /nob )up or do"n*. ;e careful "hen using the
high po"er lens0 ma/e sure the slide is correctly placed on the stage' i.e. "ith the
co&er slip on top. 1hin sections are fragile and costly to replace so please focus
carefully.
1ype of microscope:AAAAAAAAAA )Beiss' $lympus' or Me%i*
3ens Color Code $b%ecti&e
Magnification
1otal Magnification Ciameter of Field Delati&e ;rightness
Ded
Eello"
Green
;lue
/PA01+ 2+,-1- T,A3-PA,+3T
An opaFue mineral :often referred to as an 5opaFue6 :is a mineral that absorbs all
the light going through it and therefore it appears completely dar/ under the microscope
in PPL as well as XPL regardless of stage rotation. $paFue minerals are present in
almost e&ery 1, and they are mostly represented by sulfides or o#ides.
+&ercise .)1
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
name at least t"o minerals G per group : belonging to the sulfide and o#ide families.
1ransmitted light microscopy can pro&ide only minimal information about the
nature and the identity of these opaFue minerals. 1he techniFue used for opaFue minerals
is 5reflected light microscopy6.
+&ercise .).
T- $min4.' or min56 or 7"6"51"4
Eou "or/ed on 1,AAAAAAAAAA
Are there any opaFues in this 1,?
Ma/e a s/etch of an opaFue mineral both in 223 and 423
=hat happens to the opaFue mineral as you rotate the stage in 423?
Are there any transparent minerals in this 1,?
,+LI+8 A39 B+C!+ LI3+
Delief is a relati&e term and refers to ho" sharply the outlines of a grain 5stand out6 from
the medium surrounding it. +f the difference in D+ )refracti&e inde#* bet"een the grain
and the glueHad%acent mineral is great' relief "ill be high0 if small' it "ill be lo". +n (.G.
=ellsI story' the 5in&isible manIs in&isibility "as achie&ed not only by ma/ing the man
colorless' but also by causing his refracti&e inde# to be eFual to that of air. 1hus' he had
ero relief.
+n the follo"ing sections "e "ill e#ercise our eyes to recognie the minerals "ith high
relief from the one "ith lo" relief. After"ards "e "ill introduce the J;ec/e lineI method
to test "hich mineral has higher relief among grains "ith similar but not eFual D+.
Delief and ;ec/e line are best obser&ed in lo":medium illumination' 223 )it is &ery
difficult to ma/e any statement about relief in 423*' slightly closed diaphragm.
+&ercise :)1:
=hat is the mathematical definition of D+?
D.+ K
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
+f a mineral A has an D.+.K2 and mineral ; has D.+.K >.L' in "hich one does the light
tra&el faster?
+&ercise :).
T- :";"64". $Three T-'
,et the microscope in 223' lo" illumination )t"o red rectangles* and close the upper
diaphragm at 0.3. At first obser&e the 1, "ith the M4 ob%ecti&e.
,can the 1,' ho" many different types of minerals do you see' not including the
opaFues?
+t loo/s li/e there is %ust one in prismatic and granular habit' but if you insert the second
polarier )put things in 423* you "ill see that the empty spaces fill up "ith other mineral
grains that "ere not as e&ident in 223. 1he reason "hy you do not see the second mineral
is because it has &ery lo" D+ and therefore its grain boundaries and other features do not
ma/e much contrast "hen the light goes through it. Go bac/ to 223 setting.
@o" increase the magnification to >04 and obser&e the 1, again' you "ill notice that the
mineral "ith higher relief 5stands out6. Gi&e yourself some time to be able to see this
feature and if necessary use higher magnification. +t is li/e the mineral is resting on top of
the 1,. Co you agree "ith this statement?
1he mineral "ith lo" relief is Fuart. 3earn ho" it loo/s li/e in both 223 and 423.
Bec%e line test: this test allo"s you to identify minerals by comparing the D+Is of
ad%acent grains. The Becke line moves towards the mineral with higher RI as the distance
between the objective lens and the stage is increased by lowering the stage. +n order to
obser&e the ;ec/e line you ha&e to focus and defocus slightly by using the small focusing
/nobs. Call your 1A if not able to see any line.
2erform this test on the gi&en 1, )3:M:L8:2* using as reference the same mineral "ith
high relief as before' and dra" a s/etch of "hat you obser&ed.
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
+&ercise :):
<ou must have (inished e&) ;). be(ore starting this e&ercise
T- ..:"1,.,: )pic/ one of these and indicate the full code before ans"ering the
Fuestions*:
T- ..:")))))))
!#amine the circled area' in 223. Co you see grains "ith different relief?
(o" many different minerals can you see %ust by using their relief to discriminate?
Cra" a s/etch of "hat you see' code the minerals using numbers' and indicate the relief
of the minerals grains by using modifiers such as high relief' lo" relief...)you can chec/
the 1, in 423 to help you identify the different grains*
2ic/ t"o ad%acent mineral grains and perform a ;ec/e line test. =hich grain has the
highest D+? +ndicate the grains you pic/ed by using the code number.
1=+@@+@G
+&ercise ;)1
T- te&t:: or min;5
TS text33
1his section is composed of one single grain of plagioclase' and is thic/er than the usual
30 microns.
TS min46
$bser&e the circled area in 423.
+f you obser&e the 1, in 423' you "ill see that the grain displays t"o distinct
bands of different colors. As you rotate the stage you see an alternation of yello" and
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
dar/ ones in the mineral0 you are obser&ing t"inning. =hen t"inning is obser&ed' the
mineral grain under the microscope doesnIt represent a single grain' but is made of t"o
indi&idual grains that share one atomic plane. 1o understand this phenomenon' you might
thin/ of an apartment comple# "here different units share one or more "alls. 1here are
many different la"s that go&ern t"inning. =hat you see here is called Jolysynthetic
twinningI and is &ery common in lagioclase. Another type of t"inning' called cross:
hatched t"inning' is usually enough to indicate that a mineral is microcline. 3oo/ for
cross:hatched t"inning in the ne#t 1,Is' and record it in your notes. 3oo/ in your
te#tboo/ and find the optical description for -:spars) Learn how to distinguish
plagioclase, !"spar and =uart>
+&ercise ;).
T- te&t66 or T- $te&t65' or $L2"1'
Eou "or/ed on 1, AAAAAAAAA
;efore this e#ercise ma/e sure you ha&e seen 1, text33 or 1, min46
TS text!! or TS "#$%: $bser&e the 1, in 223' you see "hite and green crystals in a dar/
matri#. Choose a "hite mineral and obser&e it in 423' you "ill immediately notice that
the "hole loo/ of the 1, has changed. 1ry to stay focused on the minerals that display a
grayHblac/ H"hiteHpale:yello" color. Dotate the stage. Co you recognie any particular
feature? @ame it and ma/e a s/etch of it.
TS text!6: under 223 this 1, displays prismatic and tabular greenHbro"n minerals' some
blac/ spots' and "hite patches "ith no definition or particular features. ,"itch to 423'
"hat happens to the J"hite filling?
$bser&e these minerals by loo/ing around the thin section do you see any feature you
/no"? @ame it and ma/e a s/etch of it.
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
?/3I3@
+&ercise 6)1
T- -AA5 $. T-'
3oo/ in the area circled "ith solid line' center the "hite mineral grain and go in 423. +f
you rotate the stage you obser&e "hat is /no"n as oning. 1his feature is a conseFuence
of changes in composition from the core to the rim of the mineral grain.
1a/e a loo/ around the 1, and see if there are other grains sho"ing the same feature.
Many times oning is displayed by t"inned minerals )see e#ercise >.> and >.2*.
Chose a grain that you li/e and dra" ho" oning appears in 423.
C/L/, A39 PL+/CB,/I-C
+&ercise 5)1
T- 6":D"51".1 or T- 1"6"64"1 or T- 6":D"51".. or 7;E:7"1: $These slides
are shared b# Lab ., e&ercise .):'
Eou "or/ed on 1, AAAAAAAAAA
;efore starting the e#ercise ma/e sure your microscope is set in 223 and you are
using the ob%ecti&e M4 and that the diaphragm is open.
Chose one of the 1, listed for this e#ercise and place it on the stage. Co not rotate
the stage but obser&e your 1,' feeling free to e#plore as much of it as you please. As you
ha&e already noticed some minerals display color' "hile others do not' %ust li/e in hand
specimens. 1here is one feature that you canIt obser&e in hand specimens but is &ery
useful in microscopy and "ill appear under your eyes as you rotate the stage. )2lease
rotate the stage*. =hat is happening to your colored minerals?
=hat you ha&e %ust obser&ed is called pleochroism' "hich means change of color'
as you obser&ed for yourself. 2leochroism is a &ery distincti&e characteristic of some
minerals. 1he minerals in these 1, display &ery strong pleochroism' and therefore it is
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
easy to obser&e it. ,ometimes the change in color is &ery subtle and is necessary to train
the eye in order to be able to detect it.
+n these 1, there are t"o or three different minerals "ith different pleochroic schemes
)different color change*. 3oo/ in the circled area in 223 and ma/e a s/etch of the grain
you li/e the best indicating its prominent colors )indicate the "hole pleochroic scheme*.

Dotate the stage paying attention to the range of colors displayed by your grain and
describe it in the follo"ing space.
As you may ha&e already noticed' using a range of color in describing
pleochroism might be a little confusing0 therefore pleochroic colors are gi&en "ith
respect to specific direction. (ere is the procedure for to determine "hat is /no"n as
pleochroic scheme:

>. Center the crosshair on the grain you li/e the best and if necessary change to higher
magnification
2. ,"itch to 423.
3. Dotate the stage until the grain that you are loo/ing at becomes completely blac/. +n
this position the mineral is said to be e#tinct.
M. ,"itch bac/ to 223 )do not mo&e the stage*
L. =rite do"n the color you obser&e
6. Dotate the stage of an angle eFual to 80 degrees )you can read the angles on the stage*
N. =rite do"n the color obser&ed in this position
O. $ptional: go bac/ to 423 and ma/e sure the crystal is e#tinct in this position.
@ote: Eou "ill understand more about the logic of this procedure during class and in the
ne#t labs
@o" repeat the measurements on the mineral you chose before follo"ing the points from
> to N and report the t"o colors.
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
CL+A2A@+ and 8,ACT1,+
;efore loo/ing at the 1, please ta/e a loo/ at the hand specimens of minerals
listed for this e#ercise: biotite' plagioclase' microcline' amphibole' Fuart and oli&ine in
peridotite.
Ans"ering these fe" Fuestions should not ta/e more than a couple of minutes.
Co they ha&e clea&age?
bio plag /sp
hbl Ft ol
+f yes' then ho" many directions of clea&age do you obser&e and "hat is the angle
bet"een the different planes?
bio plag /sp
hbl Ft ol
Co you e#pect to be able to obser&e clea&age planes in 1,' and if yes ho" "ould it loo/?
bio plag
hbl Ft
/sp ol
+&ercise 7)1
T- 5".D"51"6 $Three T-'
1he main mineral in this 1, is hornblende.
Find a section cut perpendicular to the c a#is )roughly diamond shaped*' and dra" a
s/etch of it. ;e &ery accurate in your s/etch.
Co you see any special features in this grain?
2lease measure the angles bet"een the direction of the main clea&age planes and report it
on your s/etch. Co these angles suggest anything to you about a possible family for the
mineral? +f so please indicate it.
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
Find a prismatic grain )rectangular shape* and s/etch it0
(o" many clea&age directions do you obser&e?
1his is the same mineral you obser&ed a moment ago. (o" do you e#plain your
obser&ation?
1a/e an e#tensi&e loo/ of the 1, and decide "hether the follo"ing Fuestions are true or
false:
All the sections that are diamond shaped sho" al"ays t"o clea&age directions
1he angles bet"een the t"o clea&age directions change for different diamond shaped
grains
2rismatic sections ha&e only one "ell de&eloped clea&age direction
Clea&age in this specific mineral family is very diagnostic. 1ry to remember ho"
it loo/s and its angles. Cifferent types of minerals display clea&age0 if more than one
direction is present' the angle bet"een them can be &ery helpful in the identification of
minerals. ,ometimes clea&age is %ust hinted. Clea&age can be used to measure the
e#tinction angle )more on it on the ne#t lab* and this angle is also &ery important.
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Geos 306 Mineralogy Fall 2003
+&ercise 7).
Clea&age is distinguished from simple fracture in the follo"ing "ays:
>. Fractures often tend to be irregular and are generally randomly distributed "ithin the
mineral grain
2. Fractures cur&e or thin out "ithin the grain.
3. Clea&ages are linear and finely spaced.
$nce you read this paragraph ta/e the indicated 1, and loo/ in the circled area.
T- $te&;E' or $min51'
Eou "or/ed on 1,.......................:
3oo/ in the circled area: the mineral in the circle is $3+P+@! and in te#MO in order to
distinguish among the different grains you can use 423 setting. ,/etch an oli&ine grain
in the circle belo"' paying close attention to the "ay the fractures loo/.
3oo/ carefully' do you obser&e clea&age or fracture? =hy?
3ab > 2age >>