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MICROSCOPE
AUGITE {PYROXENE; (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)
(Si,Al)2O6}:
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Refract High
ive
Index:
Cleavage:
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
Colorless
N.A
Brightne Relie Grain
ss:
f:
boundary:
Medium
High Distinct
2 sets
Subhedral and
Prismatic
Sometimes present
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot
ropic:
Interference
color:
Extinction:
Twinning:
Anisotropic
2nd order
green
Inclined
extinction
o
(45 )
Simple twin
Distinguishing Property:
inclined extinction, higher birefringence,
2nd order interference colours, low 2V,
optically positive in comparison with opx
Microcline {K(AlSi3O8)}:
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Refract Low
ive
Index:
Cleavage:
Colorless
N.A
Brightne Relie Grain
ss:
f:
boundary:
Low
2 sets
Low
Less distinct
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
Anhedral
Absent
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot Anisotropic
ropic:
Interference
1st order white to
color:
grey
Extinction:
Not studied
Twinning:
Tartan twin
Distinguishing Property:
Commonly cross-hatched twin pattern
(tartan/gridiron) formed by intersecting
albite and perthite twins. It may be
untwinned or have simple twins: commonly
Carlsbad, Baveno and Maneback twins.
Exsolved albite may form lamellae, irregular
ribbons and blebs to form perthite.
Orthoclase (KAlSi3O8):
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Colorless
N.A
Refract Low
ive
Index:
Cleavage:
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
Low
Low
Indistinct
2 sets
Subhedral
Absent
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot Anisotropic
ropic:
Interference
1st order white to
color:
Extinction:
grey
Roughly
Parallel; 0-12o
Twinning:
Distinguishing Property
Orthoclase is often confused with quartz
- try looking for cloudy patches on
individual crystals in plain polarized light
which indicate weathering of the crystal.
Also take notice of the right angle
cleavage
Hypersthene{(Mg, Fe)SiO3}
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Refract Mediu
m
ive
Index:
Cleavage:
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
Light pink to
colorless
Yes
Brightne Relie Grain
ss:
f:
boundary:
Low
High Distinct
1 set prominent; 2
sets
Euhedral to subhedral
Present
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot Anisotropic
ropic:
Interference
Blue (2nd order)
color:
Extinction:
Straight w.r.t
Twinning:
cleavage
Absent
Distinguishing Property:
Low birefringence, first order colors.
Parallel extinction in longitudinal
sections, pale pink to green pleochroism.
Approximatly 90 cleavage planes. Thin
irregular and wavy lamellae common.
Enstatite
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Refract Mediu
m to
ive
high
Index:
Cleavage:
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
Colorless
N.A
Brightne Relie Grain
ss:
f:
boundary:
Low
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot
ropic:
Interference
color:
Extinction:
Anisotropic
Twinning:
Distinguishing Property
Nepheline{Na3K(Al4Si4O16)}
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Refract Low
ive
Index:
Cleavage:
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
Colorless
N.A
Brightne Relie Grain
ss:
f:
boundary:
Low
Low
1 set
Anhedral
Present
Indistinct
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot Anisotropic
ropic:
Interference
1st order grey
color:
Extinction:
Straight w.r.t
Twinning:
cleavage
Absent
Distinguishing Property:
Resembles feldspars but nepheline is
uniaxial, lacks good cleavage and twinning,
and has a low birefringence. Nepheline is
softer than quartz and differs in optic sign.
Olivine{(MgFe)2SiO4}
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Refract High
ive
Index:
Cleavage:
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
Colorless
N.A
Brightne Relie Grain
ss:
f:
boundary:
Medium
to high
High Distinct
Indistinct
Euhedral (6 sided)
Present and along
fracture serpentinized
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot Anisotropic
ropic:
Interference
2nd order red
color:
Extinction:
Straight w.r.t
Twinning:
grain
boundary
Absent
Distinguishing Property:
Alteration, grain boundary and interference
color.
Tremolite
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Refract
ive
Index:
Cleavage:
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
N.A
Brightne Relie Grain
ss:
f:
boundary:
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot
ropic:
Interference
color:
Extinction:
Anisotropic
Twinning:
Distinguishing Property
}
UNDER PPL:
Color:
Pleochroism:
Refract
ive
Index:
Cleavage:
Grain shape
and habit:
Alteration:
N.A
Brightne Relie Grain
ss:
f:
boundary:
UNDER XPL:
Isotropic/Anisot
ropic:
Interference
color:
Extinction:
Anisotropic
Twinning:
Distinguishing Property