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Accessory minerals

Minerals down the Microscope on Moodle (back to intro)

Minerals down the Microscope on Moodle.

Part 2: Accessory minerals
These are typically very stable and commonly present as small crystals in a variety of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks but never present in large quantities. Hence they are not rock-forming minerals (i.e. the ca. 10 minerals that form the vast majority of rocks). Minerals covered on these pages: Zircon Apatite Titanite Tourmaline Opaques (Fe-oxides, Fe-sulphides)

Zircon
Rock types in which zircon is commonly present: Granites , Intermediateigneousrocks , Sandstones , Schists , Gneisses (Generally present in all silicate rocks except ultrabasic igneous rocks) Zircon in mylonite Analyser out Analyser in

Optical properties of zircon High relief High order interference colours Shape: Typically euhedral (igneous) or well rounded Forms pleochroic haloes in biotite Minerals that might be confused with zircon Titanite (higher interference colours) Zircon shape, interference colours and pleochroic haloes Zircon in metasedimentary gneiss
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Analyser out

Analyser in

Zircons in granite (note darker biotite adjacent to zircon) Analyser out Analyser in

Zircon in schist Analyser out

Zircon in metasedimentary gneiss Analyser in

Note: Dark spots (pleochroic haloes) in biotite caused by radiation damage from small inclusions of zircon in the biotite. At high magnifications, some larger zircons may display internal zoning either picked out by small differences in relief or interference colours. In igneous rocks zircon typically has good crystal shape, in clastic sedimentary rocks and metasediments it tends to be well rounded.

Apatite
Rock types in which apatite is commonly present: Granites , Intermediate igneous rocks , Sandstones , Schists , Gneisses (Generally present in most silicate rocks except ultrabasic and basic igneous rocks)
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Accessory minerals

Apatite inclusions in amphibole Analyser out

Apatite in orthogneiss Analyser out

Optical properties of apatite Colourless Moderate relief Low order interference colours Shape: Typically euhedral slightly elongate prisms (hexagonal x-section) Minerals that might be confused with apatite Quartz and feldspar (low relief and typically abundant) Apatite shape and interference colours Apatite in granite Analyser out Analyser in

Apatite in gneiss Analyser out

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Note: Higher relief that adjacent quartz, typical hexagonal; cross section and low interference colours. Hexagonal sections are typically completely dark in crossed polars.

Titanite
Rock types in which titanite is commonly present: Intermediate igneous rocks , Metabasic rocks , Calcsilicates Titanite in granite Analyser out Analyser in

Optical properties of titanite High relief V. high order interference colours Shape: Diamond shaped in igneous rocks Minerals that might be confused with titanite Garnet (isotopic), Calcite (lower relief), Zircon (lower interference colours) Titanite shape and interference colours Titanites in metabasic rock Analyser out Analyser in

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Note: Little change in colour of titanite when analyzer inserted due to very high interference colours. Metamorphic titanite tends to be less well shaped and may form a reaction rim around Fe-Ti oxides

Tourmaline
Rock types in which tourmaline is commonly present: Schists , Gneisses , some Granites Tourmaline in mica schist Analyser out Analyser in

Optical properties of tourmaline Moderate relief Strongly coloured (often zoned) Moderate order interference colours Shape: Generally euhedral elongate with curved triangular cross section Elongate sections are pleochroic Minerals that might be confused with tourmaline Amphibole (Cleavage) Biotite (Cleavage, pleochroic scheme) Tourmaline shape and interference colours Tourmaline in mica schists web2.ges.gla.ac.uk/~minerals/Accessory_minerals.htm#Zircon

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Tourmaline in mica schists Analyser out Analyser out

Note: Colour zoning indicative of compositional zoning. Both biotite and tourmaline are strongly pleochroic but elongate sections of tourmaline are dark N-S, biotite is dark E-W

Opaques
(Oxides and sulphides tend to be opaque minerals e.g. Magnetite, Ilmenite, Pyrite) Most rocks contain some opaque minerals. Ilmenite tends to form slightly tabular crystals, Pyrite often forms cubes. Optical properties... dark with analyser out. All images with analyser out Ilmenite in biotite schist

Fine grained magnetite in basalt

Magnetite in peridotite

Fe-oxide cement in sandstone

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Take the Accessory Minerals test Return to top Return to introduction

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