Dr.

Helen Lang
Dept. of Geology & Geography
West Virginia University

FALL 2004

GEOLOGY 585:
OPTICAL MINERALOGY
& PETROLOGY
 Microscopic Properties of
Minerals and
the Petrographic Microscope
 Light
Visible Electromagnetic Radiation
Wavelength, (Greek letter lambda)
Frequency, (Greek letter nu)

Velocity, v =
Velocity of light in a vacuum c = 2.998 x
108 meters per second
The Elecromagnetic Spectrum
Color and Wavelengths of Visible Light
Fig. 4.4 text

violet

blue
green

yellow

orange

red
 Polarization of Light
Electric vectors of
unpolarized light
vibrate in all directions
Light can be
constrained to vibrate
in only a single plane
by a polarizing filter
Such light is said to be
Plane Polarized Light
Fig. 4.3 text
(PPL)
The Petrographic
(polarizing)
Microscope
Analyzer (NS
or EW)
Rotating Stage

Polarizer (EW or
NS, perpendicular
to Analyzer)
 Non-opaque Minerals are either

Isotropic or Anisotropic
having the having different
same properties properties in
in all directions different
directions
 Why Polarized Light?
Light interacts differently with anisotropic minerals
depending on the lights vibration direction relative
to planes in the mineral structure

Calcite Structure Mica Structure

 Properties observable in Plane
Polarized Light (PPL):
Relief

Relief is determined by the difference between

the refractive index (n) of the mineral and the
refractive index of its surroundings
Refractive index, n = velocityvacuum/velocitymineral
nminerals mostly between 1.5 and 2.0
Refractive Index is directly
related to Density
forms of SiO2
Examples of Relief in Thin Sections

Garnet, hi relief

moderate relief

low relief (Qtz, feldspar)

 Shape in PPL

Euhedral stubby prisms of Nepheline

Pyroxene Cleavage ~90o
Examples of Cleavage in PPL

Hornblende Cleavage 60o & 120o

 Color and Pleochroism
Color in Pleochroism is
transmitted light when anisotropic
results when some minerals absorb
wavelengths polarized light
(colors) of white differently along
light are absorbed different directions
more than others in the mineral
Pleochroism: Color tourmaline is darkest polarizer

change depends on
orientation of grain
relative to polarizer

biotite is darkest // polarizer

polarizer
 Minerals observed in
Crossed-polarized light (XPL)
Viewed between two perpendicular polaroid filters
the Polarizer below the sample
the Analyzer above the sample (insert using rod)

Some microscopes (our binocs) Other microscopes (our monocs)

NS NS

pol. anal.
EW EW
anal.

pol.
When an isotropic substance is
viewed in Crossed Polarized
Light (XPL) it appears dark

Why?
Because the polarized light that
passes through it is unchanged,
and when it hits the analyzer it
is blocked.
 Double Refraction happens in all
Anisotropic Minerals

Calcite Displays Double Refraction Most Dramatically

Constructive and Destructive
Interference

constructive

destructive
When polarized light enters an anisotropic
mineral, it is split into two rays which
vibrate perpendicular to eachother

The fast ray travels faster

The slow ray travels slower
vfast>vslow
Remember velocity (v) =
Wavelength () changes, but frequency
() remains the same, therefore
fast>slow
The two rays recombine when they leave
the mineral by vector addition

fast ray,
long

slow ray
short
 When light passes thru an anisotropic mineral
If recombined
wave is parallel to
If recombined wave the Analyzer, all
is perpendicular to light passes,
Analyzer, no light mineral appears
passes, mineral brightest
appears dark
fast ray,
long

slow ray
short
 Lagging of the slow ray behind
the fast ray is called Retardation
When the two rays recombine at the
Analyzer, they interfere (constructively or
destructively) with each other and there is
generally a component of light parallel to
the Analyzer
Different colors of light experience different
amounts of Retardation
Retardation and Interference

Quartz Wedge
between Crossed

es
Polaroid Films in

as
re
Monochromatic

inc
(NaD; =590nm)
ss
ne Light
ick
th

Note constructive
and destructive
interference
Interference Colors
Constructive
(bright) and
Destructive
Interference
(black) for
different colors
sums to the
interference
colors (at the
bottom) for
white light
 Interference Colors
commonly referred to as Birefringence
Plag
Qtz Cpx Olivine

Musc
0.03
Thickness (mm)

Calcite
retardation
Quartz has Low Birefringence
Plagioclase has low (gray to white)
birefringence and twinning
Microcline has low birefringence
and plaid twinning
Pyroxene has Moderate
Birefringence (in XPL)

Note twinning
Olivine has High Relief (in PPL) and
Moderate Birefringence (in XPL)
Muscovite also has Moderate Birefringence
Calcite and Titanite (sphene) have
Extremely High Birefringence

Milky, pastel colors called high-order white

 All anisotropic minerals go
extinct (black) 4 times as you
rotate the stage 360o
Why?

Because at those positions, each of the two

perpendicular allowed vibration
directions is parallel to the polarizer or the
analyzer.
Called extinction or extinction positions
 Quartz in Sandstone

PPL XPL
Birds-eye
Extinction in
Biotite
(typical of all
micas)
 Interference Colors
Plag
Qtz birefringence Cpx Olivine

Musc
0.03
Thickness (mm)

Calcite
retardation
Properties best (or only) observed in XPL
Isotropic or anisotropic
Birefringence or interference colors
Mineral color may obscure this
Extinction
Twinning
Special properties like birds-eye extinction in
micas
Grain boundaries of similar relief minerals
Others?
The Elecromagnetic Spectrum
 Why Polarized Light?
Light interacts differently with anisotropic minerals
depending on the lights vibration direction relative
to planes in the mineral structure

Calcite Structure Mica Structure

 When light passes thru an anisotropic
mineral
If recombined wave
is perpendicular to
Analyzer, no light
passes, mineral
appears dark
If recombined wave
is parallel to the
Analyzer, all light
passes, mineral
appears brightest
fast ray,
long

slow ray
short