Dari web: http://www.nslc.ucla.edu/pet/mineral_html/Olivine.

html

Olivine
Next Mineral

xpl 10*

ppl 20*

xpl 20*

ppl 20*

xpl 20*

ppl 5*

1. xpl 3rd order birefringence x5

2. ppl ideal crystal shape x5

3. xpl maximum birefringence x5

4. xpl extinction x5

7. ppl olivine in pyroxence x5

8. xpl olivine in pyroxence x5

group
olivine
system
orthorhombic
formula
(Fe,Mg)2SiO4
optic
biaxial neg / pos
Too-Vee
46 - 98
relief.1
high pos
min. index
1.636 / 1.879
color
colorless, yellow
pleochroism
yes
birefringence.1
0.033 - 0.052
cleavage
no
elongation
yes
extinction
parallel
angle
0
alteration
iddingsite, chlorophaeite
habit.1
subequant, anhedral (aggregates),
euhedral
occurence
igneous (granitic, volcanic, mafic,
ultramafic) meta- morphic (skarn), sedimentary
TwoV
1 2
relief
3
pleochroism.2
yellow, orange
birefringence
9 12 13
cleavage.2
( {010}, {110} not seen in thin
section)

dari web: http://www.brocku.ca/earthsciences/people/gfinn/minerals/olivine.htm

OLIVINE
General
Formula:
(Fe,Mg)2SiO4

System:
Orthorhombic

Sample: PT-96

Euhedral to
subhedral olivine
Olivine
phenocrysts,
phenocrysts
exhibiting
nd
rd
irregular fractures, exhibiting 2 to 3
in a plagioclase order interference
colours
microlite matrix
Field of View =
4.0 mm, Crossed
Field of View =
polars
4.0 mm, plane
light

Block diagram showing the relationship

between the crystallographic axes and the
indicatrix axes.

Optical Properties
Colour
Pleochroism

usually colourless,
darker colours
correspond to higher
iron content
non pleochroic

Form

generally subequant
anhedral grains or
aggregates in intrusive and
metamorphic rocks.
Equidimensional or
elongated euhedral grains
in volcanics

Relief
RI

high positive
n = 1.636-1.827
n = 1.651-1.869
n = 1.669-1.879

Cleavage

not observed

Birefringence 0.033-0.052
Interference up to third order

Twinning

not common

Colours
Interference
Figure
Optic Sign
2V

biaxial
positive or negative
46-98

Optic
Orientation

elongate grains have

parallel extinction and
may be either length fast
or slow

Composition

minor substitution of
Alteration
Mn, Zn, Ca, Ni, Cr or Al
for Fe and Mg

Occurrence

pure Fo (Mg-rich) is
Distinguishing high birefringence,
restricted to
Features
distinctive fracturing, lack
metamorphosed
of cleavage, and alteration
carbonates, intermediate
products.
Fe-Mg olivine is
common in mafic and
ultramafic igneous
rocks, Fe-rich olivine
occurs in felsic rocks.

commonly alters to
iddingsite and
chlorophaeite, which are
really mixtures of various
minerals which cannot be
identified, and serpentine.
Alteration progresses from
the edge and along cracks

Dari web: http://www.science.smith.edu/geosciences/petrology/petrography/olivine/olivine.html

Smith College - Geology 222b - Petrology

Petrographic Data File

Olivine
Property

Value

Comments
Complete solid solution
between Mg2SiO4
(forsterite) and Fe2SiO4
(fayalite).

Formula

(MgFe)2SiO4

Crystal System

orthorhombic

Crystal Habit

granular masses or rounded grains

Cleavage

no distinct cleavage

conchoidal fracture

Color/Pleochroism

Olive or yellowish-green in hand

samples. Colorless to pale green in
thin section. Weak, pale green

Can be a yellowish color

when rich in iron.

pleochroism in thin section.

Optic Sign

Biaxial (-); or Biaxial (+)

2V

82-90; forsterite
46-90; fayalite

if 2V =82-90 it is forsterite
and Biaxial (+)
if 2V=46-90 it is fayalite
and Biaxial (-)
Varies depending on
composition.
Click here for graph.

Optic Orientation

X=b
Y=c
Z=a

O.A.P. = (010)
Refractive Indices
alpha =
beta =
gamma =
delta =
Max Birefringence

1.635-1.827
1.651-1.869
1.670-1.879
0.035-0.052
0.033 - 0.052

Elongation
Extinction

parallel

Elongate crystals display

parallel extinction.

Dispersion

Distinguishing
Features

Colorless to olive green in thin section. Second-order interference

colors. High relief. Lack of cleavage. H= 7. G = 3.22 to 4.39.
Specific gravity increases and hardness decreases with increasing Fe.
Streak is colorless or white.

Occurrence

Occurs in a wide variety of volcanic rocks, both as phenocrysts and

as groundmass. Olivine with intermediate Fe-Mg composition is
common in mafic and ultramafic volcanic rocks and plutonic
igneous rocks. Iron rich olivines occur in alkaline and acid plutonic
rocks.

Editors

Micehelle Arsenault (01), Jamie Mitchell (03), Angelie Peterson

(02), Cheryl Mawaka (04), Lauren Magliozzi (12)

Photomicrograph of olivine in plane light. Olivine typically

displays pale green pleochroism and no distinct cleavage. Mag.
10x.

Photomicrograph of olivine under crossed polarized light. These

crystals show 2nd order interference colors. This sample also
shows some plagioclase feldspar with albite twinning.

Photomicrograph of olivine in basalt in crossed polars with

cleavage planes parallel to crosshairs of microscope, showing
"extinct" view. Select the image and then move cursor over image
to view the stage rotated 45 degrees, where the mineral shows
maximum transmitted light. These two images demonstrate the
extinction angle of olivine.
Photomicrograph of olivine in basalt (ED99-J) in plane light.
Select image and then move cursor over image to view in crossed
polarized light, where crystals show high bifringence.
Magnification 1.5x.

Photomicrograph of olivine phenocrysts, in a matrix of Hawaiian

basalt, in plane light. Select image and then move cursor over
image to view in crossed polarized light, where crystals show high
birefringence. Magnification 5x.