Professional Documents
Culture Documents
l
~CJ95
Atlasof c.1
rock-forming minerals 1
in thin section t/
9z; IR·o coR A- (A
W. S. MacKenzie and C. Guilford
ii
Contents
iii
Preface
The purpose of this book is to illustrate the appearance of many of the who typed the text, not once but innumerable times, until we found
common rock-forming minerals in thin section under the microscope. what we considered to be a compromise between too detailed and too
It is not our intention that it should be used as a substitute for a brief descriptions of the photographs.
mineralogy textbook but rather as a laboratory handbook for use in We should like to thank the staff of the publishers, particularly Miss
practical classes together with one of the standard textbooks on Bobbi Gouge, for their consideration and helpfulness in the
mineralogy. preparation of this work.
The idea of producing a series of photographs of minerals in thin
section came from two sources. The son of one of the authors,
I. R. MacKenzie, then in his second year as a student of geology.
suggested that these would be a useful aid in recognizing minerals
under the microscope. On questioning undergraduates in second-year
Geology classes in Manchester University, why they preferred certain
textbooks to others, the answer was invariably that they found those
books which contained illustrations accompanying the text parti-
cularly useful, especially when they could recognize under the
microscope features which could be seen in the photographs.
Some of the textbooks which, in our ·opinion, contain the best
photomicrographs or drawings of minerals are rather old and are not
readily available to the student of today. Rosenbusch's Mikroskop-
ische Petrographie der Mineralien und Gesteine, published in 1905, has
some excellent photomicrographs printed in black and white, while
Teall's British Petrography, published in 1888, has beautiful drawings
which appear to have been hand-coloured before reproduction by
printing. H. G. Smith's "Minerals and the Microscope", first printed
in 1914, has been found useful by generations of students of
elementary mineralogy because of the high quality of the illustrations.
It seemed to us that if we could reproduce faithfully, by colour
photography, the appearance of minerals llnder the microscope both
in plane-polarized light and under crossed polars, the usefulness of
photomicrographs as a teaching aid would be increased enormously.
The majority of the photographs were made from thin sections of
rocks in the teaching collections of the Geology Department in
Manchester University and we are grateful to many of our colleagues
in Manchester for providing us with thin sections. We are particularly
indebted to Professor J. Zussman for his enthusiasm and encourage-
ment to us to undertake this work and to Dr. S. 0. Agrell of the
Department of Mineralogy and Petrology of Cambridge University
· who very kindly found , from the Harker Collection in Cambridge, a
number of additional thin sections. Dr. Agrell and Professor W. A.
Deer very generously agreed to look at most of the photographs we
had made and helped us to decide whether they were suitable or could
be improved. The authors alone are responsible for any deficiencies
Which are still present in the photographs. We are also grateful to Dr. J.
Wadsworth of the Manchester Department for making a number of
useful suggestions for improving the descriptions of the photo-
micrographs but again we alone are responsible for any errors which
may appear here. Finally we are much indebted to Miss Patricia Crook
iv
Introduction
The minerals represented here are arranged in the same order in which orthogonal positions the polarizer is set in the photographs taken in
they appear in Deer, Howie and Zussman's Introduction to Rock plane-polarized light.
Forming Minerals (relevant page numbers given at the end of each As mentioned above we have quoted the numerical value of the
entry in square brackets). except for a few minerals which are not birefringence for each mineral, but in the description of the
described by these authors. viz. deerite, howieite. zussmanite, yoderite photograph we have generally referred to the order of the interference
and lamprophyllite. The decision as to which minerals to include has colour. To enable the reader to translate birefringence to a particular
been based mainly on two considerations, firstly, how frequently they colour we have included on p. vi a photograph of a quartz wedge with
occur and secondly whether a photograph can be a useful aid in a birefringence scale along its length. This should not be used as a
identification. Michel-Levv chart since the thickness of the section is not taken into
In the headings for each mineral we have listed the chemical formula account, it being assumed that the section is of standard thickness, viz.
(simplified in some cases), crystal system. optic sign, the values of the 13 0·03 mm. Thus the mineral names are reproduced against the highest-
refractive index for biaxial minerals and thew and £ ray refractive order colour which they show in a thin section of standard thickness
indices for uniaxial minerals together with the birefringence. These rather than opposite radial lines which show the variation in colour
figures have been quoted from Deer, Howie and Zussman's book with with thickness and birefringence of the mineral as in a Michel-Levy
their permission. The rock type and locality of the specimens are chart.
quoted, where these are known, and the magnifications used in taking The faithful reproduction of the interference colours of minerals in
the photographs are given. Each photograph is accompanied by a brief thin section or in a quartz wedge as seen under crossed polars, depends
description of the field of view illustrated but, in general, only to a large extent on the type of film used and also on the printing
properties which can be seen in the photographs are discussed. Thus process. Some of the Michel-Levy charts that have been published
we have omitted reference to optic axial angle, sign of elongation and depart slightly from the true colours and one fault which is fairly
dispersion. In most cases at least two photographs have been made for common concerns the middle of the second-order colours where a
each mineral, one in plane-polarized light and the other the same view broad band of bright green is sometimes shown between blue and
under crossed polars. If the mineral is pleochroic we have reproduced yellow. Observation of a quartz wedge under crossed polars reveals
two photographs in plane-polarized light with the polarizer in two that the second-order colour between blue and yellow is a rather pale
orthogonal positions. In the case of isotropic minerals we have tended green in contrast to the fairly deep green in the third order. Only in
to omit the view taken under crossed polars. minerals which are colourless and have negligible dispersion, is it
With few exceptions the polarizer has been set parallel to the edges possible to distinguish these two greens and even then only after
of the photograph but we have not made much use of this fact since considerable experience. In some of the photographs of minerals of
discussion of extinction angles is omitted except in the case of the moderate birefringence the edge of the crystals can be seen to be
plagioclase feldspars, because this would necessitate reproducing a wedge-shaped and thus the order of the interference colour can be
number of photographs taken under crossed polars. In order to show determined fairly readily.
pleochroism, we have used rotation of the polarizer rather than Some of the common minerals which are usually considered difficult
rotation of the stage of the microscope for two reasons. Firstly, this to identify (e.g. cordierite) are represented by more than one rock
makes it easier to compare the photographs and observe the change in section if we considered that additional photographs would give a
colour shown by any one crystal and secondly it has been done to better idea of the variations in appearance which may be expected in
encourage the use of this method for detecting weak pleochroism. different rocks or if it was impossible, in one field of view, to illustrate
Although we have adopted the procedure of retaining the thin the different properties which we wished to show.
section in the same orientation for all three photographs, this has one In a few cases the photographs taken in plane-polarized light show
disadvantage. If there are only a few crystals in the field of view, or the pale pink and green colours due to stray polarization produced in the
crystals have a strong preferred orientation in the rock section used, we photographic equipment: when such colours are present we have noted
have been unable to show the maximum change in absorption colour this in the description of the photograph.
on rotation of the polarizer through 90° since the extreme absorption
colours are shown by a crystal when its vibration directions are parallel
to and perpendicular to the polarizer. In these positions the crystal
would be at extinction when viewed under crossed polars and ideally
we wish to show the characteristic interference colours near to their
maximum intensity. We have not specified in which of the two
v
0.000 Birefringence chart
Leucite Analcite
0.005 Nepheline
N
0
0 Apatite Microcline Sanidine Sapphirine
Anorthoclase Vesuvianite Zoisite
Corundum Quartz
0.010 Chlorite Eudialyte
Andalusite Axinite Topaz
Arfvedsonite
~ Jadeite Melilite Plagioclase
0
0
Staurolite Wollastonite
0.015
Kyanite
Serpentine
Cordierite
0.025 Cancrinite
00
Hornblende Yoderite
0
0 Tremolite-Ferroactinolite
Anthophyllite- Gedrite Mullite
0.030 Deerite
Augite Howieite
Chondrodite
0.035 Forsterite Lamprophyllite Prehnite Tourmaline
Allanite
0
N
Pectolite Scapolite
0.040
0.045 Cummingtonite-Grunerite
........
~
0
0
Epidote Muscovite
0.050 Aegirine-Augite Pyrophyllite Talc
Fayalite
0.055
Olivine
Olivine
1
Olivine
Olivine
2
Monticellite
Monticellite
CaMgSi04
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( - )
RI ~ 1·646- 1·664
Birefringence 0·012- 0·020
3
Chondrodite
Chondrodite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( +)
RI 1·602- 1·627
Birefringence 0·028- 0·034
4
Chondrodite
Chondrodite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( +)
RI 1·602- 1·627
Birefringence 0·028- 0·034
5
•
Zircon
Zircon
I
I
Symmetry Tetragonal ( +)
/ 1... Rl w 1·923 1·960
£ 1·968- 2·015
Birefringence 0·042- 0·065
6
Sphene
Sphene
CaTiSi04 (0H, F)
Symmetry Monoclinic ( + )
RI 1·870- 2·034
Birefringence 0·1 00- 0· I 92
7
Garnet
Garnet
(Mg, Fe, Mn) 3 Al 2 Si 3 0 12
almandine group
Ca3 (Al, Fe, Ti, Cr) 2 Si3 0 12
andradite group
Symmetry Cubic
Rl 11 1·714-1·887
8
Vesuvianite (ldocrase)
Vesuvianite
(ldocrase)
Symmetry Tetragonal ( - )
RI £ 1·700- 1·746
w 1·703- 1·752
Birefringence 0·001- 0·008
9
Sillimanite
Sillimanite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( +)
RI 13 1·658- 1·662
Birefringence 0·020- 0·022
10
Sillimanite
Sillimanite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( +)
RI ~ 1·658- 1·662
Birefringence 0·020- 0·022
11
Mullite
Mullite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( +)
RI 13 1·642- 1·675
Birefringence 0·012- 0·028
12
Andalusite
Andalusite
13
Andalusite
Andalusite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( - )
RI 1·633- 1·653
Birefringence 0·009- 0·011
14
Andalusite & Sillimanite intergrowth
Andalusite &
Sillimanite
intergrovvth
15
Kyanite
Kyanite
Al2 Si0 5
Symmetry Triclinic ( - )
RI 13 1·721 - 1·723
Birefringence 0·012- 0·016
16
Topaz
Topaz
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( +)
RI ~ 1·609- 1·631
Birefringence 0·008- 0·011
17
Staurolite
Staurolite
Symmetry Monoclinic
(pseudo-orthorhombic) ( +)
RI 1·745- 1·753
Birefringence 0·012- 0·014
18
Chloritoid
Chloritoid
19
Sapphirine
Sapphirine
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - ) or ( +)
RI ~ 1·703- 1·728
Birefringence 0·005- 0·007
20
Eudialyte
Eudialyte
(Na, Fe, Ca) 6 ZrSi6 0 18 (0H, Cl)
,. ·,
Symmetry Trigonal ( +) or (-) .
..-
RI w 1·593- 1·643
tl.,
£ 1·597 1·634
t,.
Birefringence 0·000 to 0·0 10 ,\
21
Zoisite
Zoisite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( +)
RI 1·688- 1·71 0
Birefringence 0·004-0·008
22
Epidote
Epidote
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - )
RI 1·725- 1·784
Birefringence 0·0 15- 0·049
23
Piemontite
Piemont-ite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( + )
RI 1·750- 1·807
Birefringence 0·025- 0·088
24
Allanite (Orthite)
Allanite (Orthite)
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - ) or ( +)
0
RI ~ 1·700- 1·815
Birefringence
:~} .. ~.
Lavvsonite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( +)
RI 13 1·674
Birefringence 0·020
26
Pumpellyite
Pumpellyite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( +)
RI 1·675- 1·715
Birefringence 0·012- 0·022
27
Melilite
Melilite
28
Melilite
Melilite
Symmetry Tetragonal ( - ) or ( +)
RI w 1·669- 1·632
£ 1·658- 1·640
Birefringence 0·000- 0·0 13
29
Cordierite
Cordierite
-~ ~
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( - )or ( +)
RI ~ 1·524-1·574
/
;
"' .. / ' Birefringence 0·005- 0·0 18
... ;·
The upper photograph, taken in plane-polarized light,
shows cordierite intergrown with alkali feldspar. The
cordierite can be recognized in this section by its dusty
appearance whereas the feldspar is relatively clear. In
addition there are irregular cracks and veins at the edges
of the cordierite crystals which are yellowish in colour.
These are composed of a mineral which is generally called
pinite and this alteration is very common in cordierite.
In the lower photograph, taken under crossed polars,
the birefringence ofthe cordierite is seen to be very similar
to that of the alkali feldspar but many of the cordierite
crystals show lamellar twinning and this causes it to be
confused with plagioclase (see photographs on
p.31). [84].
30
Cordierite
Cordierite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( - ) or ( + )
RI r3 1·524-1·574
Birefringence 0·005- 0·0 18
31
Tourmaline
Tourmaline
·symmetry Trigonal ( - )
RI £ 1·610- 1·650
w 1·635- 1·675
Birefringence 0·021 0·035
' .._._ . .
~ -
·~. ~.r~~- :.~ .
,_ - ...
·;.· ..
. .-. ..:. ·:· .. . . .
~
, .,..
'
32
Tourmaline
Tourmaline
Symmetry Trigonal ( - )
RI £ 1·610- 1·650
w 1·635- 1·675
Birefringence 0·021- 0·035
..
·. '
... ~~ ..
u
\
··.~·
~ lo~ ..c· -;_, . ·~ \;.· . ,
~~. J !
.. •• \ ...; .. 't
~,...- ~! ·.:..%
i.-b,\ ..
rf ', 't~
•• •.
Axinite
Symmetry Triclinic ( - )
RI 1·681- 1·701
Birefringence 0·009- 0·011
34
0 rthopyroxene
Orthopyroxene
(Mg, Fe)Si03
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( + ) or ( - )
Rl J3 1·653 1·770
Birefringence 0·007- 0·020
35
Augite
Augite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( + )
RI ~ 1·670 1·741
Birefringence 0·0 18- 0·033
36
Titanaugite
Titanaugite
37
Clinopyroxene & Orthopyroxene intergrowth
Clinopyr~oxene &
0 rthopyroxene
intergrolNth
38
Aegirine-augite
Aegirine-augite
(Na, Ca) (Fe, Mg)Si2 0 6
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - ) or ( +)
RI ~ 1·710- 1·780
Birefringence 0·030- 0·050
39
Jadeite
Jadeite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( +)
RI r3 1·645- 1·663
Birefringence 0·012- 0·013
I
II
,_
' l
40
Wollastonite
Wollastonite
'41
Pectolite
Pectolite
Ca2 NaSi3 0 8 (0H)
Symmetry Triclinic ( +)
RI 1·605- 1·615
Birefringence 0·030- 0·038
42
Anthophyllite- Gedrite
Anthophyllite
Gedrite
(Mg, Fe) 7 Si8 022(0H, F)2-
(Mg, Fe) 5 Al4 Si6 0 22 (0H, F)2
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( - ) or ( + )
RI r3 1·605- 1·710
Birefringence 0·0 13- 0·028
43
Cummingtonite- Grunerite
Cummingtonite
Grunerite
(Mg, Fe) 7 Si8 0 22 (0H)z-
(Fe, Mg) 7 Sis022 (0H)z
Symmetry Monoclinic ( +) or ( -)
RI ~ 1·644-1·709
Birefringence 0·020- 0·045
44
Tremolite - Ferroactinolite
Tremolite-
F erroacti no I ite
Ca2 Mg 5 Si8 0 22 (0H, F)2
Ca2 Fe 5 Si 8 0 22 (0H, F) 2
45
Hornblende
Hornblende
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - ) or ( + )
RI ~ 1·618- 1·714
Birefringence 0·014-0·026
46
Hornblende
Hornblende
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - ) or ( +)
RI 1·618- 1·714
Birefringence 0·014-0·026
47
Kaersutite
Kaersutite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - )
RI 1·690- 1·741
Birefringence 0·0 19- 0·083
48
Glaucophane
Glaucophane
49
Arfvedsonite
·. Arfvedsonite
50
Aenigmatite
Aenigmatite
,...,~
1 ' . . ...... - •• • • · ~-,: -
~ """ " - ~ ' '1. ., ~I
~ ~~
•. . . ..·. .
it ,.., ....
I ,•
.. ..... ..
Symmetry Triclinic ( + )
RI 1·82
Birefringence 0·07
51
Astrophyllite
Astrophyll ite
Symmetry Triclinic ( +)
RI 1·703- 1·726
Birefringence 0·06 (approx.)
52
Lamprophyllite
Lamprophyllite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( +)
RI ~ 1·747- 1·754
Birefringence 0·032- 0·035
53
Muscovite
Muscovite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - )
RI 1·582- 1·610
Birefringence 0·036- 0·049
54
Biotite
Biotite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - )
RI 1·605- 1·696
Birefringence 0·04-0·08
55
Biotite
Biotite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( -)
RI 1·605- 1·696
Birefringence 0·04-0·08
56
Stilpnomelane
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - )
RI 1·576- 1·745
Birefringence 0·030- 0·11 0
57
Pyrophyll ite
Pyrophyll ite
A1Si2 0 5 (0H)
Symmetry Monoclinic ( -)
.·
RI B 1·586- 1·589
Birefringence 0·050
58
Talc
Talc
59
Chlorite
Chlorite
60
Chlorite
Chlorite
61
Serpentine
Serpentine
62
Prehnite
Prehnite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( +)
RI r3 1·615- 1·642
Birefringence 0·022- 0·035
63
Microcline
Microcline
64
Perthite & M icroperthite
Perthite &
Microperthite
(K, Na)A1Si3 0 8
65
Sanidine
Sanidine
(K, N a)A1Si3 0 8
Symmetry Monoclinic ( - )
RI 1·522- 1·528
Birefringence 0·006-0·007
66
Anorthoclase
Anorthoclase
(Na, K)A1Si3 0 8
67
Plagioclase
Plagioclase
.,.
.jJ
-
-t~:
I•
' ./
...:
t
68
Plagioclase
Plagioclase
69 ... .
Quartz
Quartz
Symmetry Trigonal ( +)
RI w 1·544
£ 1·553
.... : ~ :
Birefringence 0·009
. \."" -. ' ~' Quartz is the most common of all minerals and is fairly
~
- ..- •:
i.
:
.
"'
·~.~~'-...
I
,J. ,;.
'
:~.
. ....
70
Quartz
Quartz
Symmetry Trigonal ( +)
RI w 1·544
£ 1·553
Birefringence 0·009
,. .
Specimen from cordierite- sillimanite gneiss, 11 km south of
Ihosy, Madagascar; magnification x 43. I f•
71
Myrmekite
Myrmekite
72
Granophyric texture
Granophyric texture
73
Tridymite
Tridymite
Symmetry Orthorhombic ( +)
RI 13 1·470- 1·480
Birefringence 0·002- 0·004
74
Cristobalite
Cristobalite
75
Nepheline
Nepheline
NaAISi04
76
Nepheline
Nepheline
NaA1Si04
Symmetry Hexagonal ( - )
RI £ 1·526- 1·542
w 1·529- 1·546
Birefringence 0·003- 0·005
77
Sanidine & Nepheline
Sanidine &
Nepheline
78
Leu cite
Leu cite
79
No sean
Nosean
Symmetry Cubic
RI n 1·495
80
Cancrinite
Cancrinite
Symmetry Hexagonal ( - )
RI £ 1·503
w 1·528
Birefringence 0·025
81
Sea polite
Sea polite
3(NaAISi 3 0 8 )·NaCI-3(CaA1 2 Si 2 0 8 )·CaCo 3
Symmetry Tetragonal ( - )
RI £ 1·540- 1·564
w 1·546- 1·600
Birefringence 0·005- 0·038
82
Analcite
Analcite
Symmetry Cubic
RI n 1·479-1·493
83
Corundum
Corundum
84
Rutile
Rutile
Symmetry Tetragonal ( +)
RI w 2·605-2·613
£ 2·899-2·901
Birefringence 0·286-0·296
85
Perovskite
Perovskite
86
Spinel
Spinel
Symmetry Cubic
RI 11 1·719- 1·835
87
Brucite
Brucite
Mg(OH) 2
Symmetry Trigonal ( +)
RI w 1·560- 1·590
£ 1·580- 1·600
Birefringence 0·012- 0·020
88
Calcite
Calcite
89
Dolomite
..... Dolomite
90
Dolomite
Dolomite
91
Apatite
Apatite
Ca 5 (P04 ) 3 (0H, F, Cl)
92
Fluorite
Fluorite
CaF2
Symmetry Cubic
RI n 1·433-1·435
93
Dee rite
Dee rite
Symmetry Monoclinic
RI 1·85
Birefringence 0·03 (approx.)
94
Howieite
Hovvieite
95
Zussmanite
Zussmanite
96
Yoderite
Yoderite
Symmetry Monoclinic ( +)
RI ~ 1·691
Birefringence 0·026
cannot see the full range of pleochroism or interference .... ,.. ...
colours.
In this rock the yoderite occurs along with quartz and
talc and yoderite crystals usually contain a core ofkyanite
';
which is not seen in this section.
97
Index
Orthite 25 ~-~;-;;-....._"-
~B Gee.-......:.
Fayalite 1, 2 Orthopyroxene . /~~5 ./:o'- . Zircon 6
Ferroactinolite 45
'+
~
o,.... \
-----r "t \\ Zoisite 22
CJ~ _; ..4'
Fluorite 93 Pectolite 4~ O\O\ \!'\-::"·~~ •·o
Zussmanite 96
~u L;'-• J ''"'"" ::: !
98 o,_.,~t-J
:r. 4,... /j
•._.?'~ *.//