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    Isotropic RV

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    Madhu Sudhanan
    Minerals can be grouped into isotropic and anisotropic based on how light is transmitted through them. Isotropic minerals like garnet, spinel, and fluorite have uniform crystal structure and transmit light uniformly in all directions, appearing the same under polarized light regardless of orientation. They are often cubic in crystal system and have a single refractive index. Anisotropic minerals have varied crystal structures and transmit light differently based on orientation, appearing differently under polarized light when rotated.

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    Isotropic RV

    Uploaded by

    Madhu Sudhanan
    40 views24 pages
    Minerals can be grouped into isotropic and anisotropic based on how light is transmitted through them. Isotropic minerals like garnet, spinel, and fluorite have uniform crystal structure and transmit light uniformly in all directions, appearing the same under polarized light regardless of orientation. They are often cubic in crystal system and have a single refractive index. Anisotropic minerals have varied crystal structures and transmit light differently based on orientation, appearing differently under polarized light when rotated.

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    Minerals can be grouped into isotropic and anisotropic based on how light is transmitted through them. Isotropic minerals like garnet, spinel, and fluorite have uniform crystal structure and transmit light uniformly in all directions, appearing the same under polarized light regardless of orientation. They are often cubic in crystal system and have a single refractive index. Anisotropic minerals have varied crystal structures and transmit light differently based on orientation, appearing differently under polarized light when rotated.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    40 views24 pages

    Isotropic RV

    Uploaded by

    Madhu Sudhanan
    Minerals can be grouped into isotropic and anisotropic based on how light is transmitted through them. Isotropic minerals like garnet, spinel, and fluorite have uniform crystal structure and transmit light uniformly in all directions, appearing the same under polarized light regardless of orientation. They are often cubic in crystal system and have a single refractive index. Anisotropic minerals have varied crystal structures and transmit light differently based on orientation, appearing differently under polarized light when rotated.

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    OPTICAL CLASSES OF MINERALS

    - Minerals can be conveniently grouped under the different crystal systems: cubic,
    tetragonal, hexagonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic and triclinic.

    - The optical properties of minerals is governed by their crystal system and their
    corresponding lattice types.

    - Based on the transmission and behaviour of light within minerals, we have two broad
    groups: Isotropic and Anisotropic minerals.
    Isotropic Minerals:
    - All minerals of the cubic system are isotropic as they possess uniform crystal structure
    along their crystal axes ( a1=a2=a3).

    - The transmission of ordinary light is uniform in all directions within the isotropic mineral.

    - There is only one refractive index in isotropic minerals.

    - The wave fronts of light waves moving from a point source inside a cubic mineral in a
    particular instant of time
    - will form a circle in 2D
    - and a spheroid in 3D and the surface of the 3D spheroid is called as a ray velocity
    surface of the cubic mineral.
    Behaviour of light in Isotropic Minerals in Polarizing Microscopes
    - A mineral is said to be isotropic when light rays transmitted through it travel with the
    same velocity in all crystallographic directions.

    - The polarized light rays (vibrating NS) penetrating an isotropic mineral remain unchanged
    and are stopped by the upper analyzer (vibration direction EW) due to difference in
    vibrating directions.

    - The mineral becomes dark or extinct in the field of view even after microscope stage
    rotation.

    - In isotropic minerals the RI (n) is uniform on all directions and na1 = na2 = na3
    Isotropic Minerals
    - Garnet Group (all garnets), Spinel Group (chromite, magnetite), Feldspathoids (sodalite,
    hauyne, nosean, lazulite);

    - Analcime (Zeolite group), Fluorite, Halite.

    - Ores: Periclase, Pyrite, Sphalerite, Galena, Pentlandite, Chalcopyrite.

    - Native elements: Cu, Au, Ag, Fe, PGE, Diamond.


    Characters of Isotropic Minerals under the Polarizing Microscopes
    1. 1. Form:
    The mineral in thin section may display crystal boundaries as distinct outlines. The
    degree of face development is referred to as the form. The form of the mineral may be one
    of the following:
    a. Euhedral: Well developed crystal faces present (crystallized).

    b. Subhedral: Partly developed crystal faces present (crystalline).

    c. Anhedral: Poorly developed crystal faces present (massive/amorphous).


    2. Habit:
    The habit refers to the general shape and to the development of an individual crystal, or
    aggregate of crystals to produce a particular external shape.

    Disseminated: Occurs in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix. CHROMITE.


    Saccaroidal : Chromite
    Inclusions: Generally found as inclusions in other minerals. GARNET.
    Spherical: rounded aggregates. PYRITE.
    Aggregate: Garnet, spinel, fluorite.
    3. Color
    - Isotropic minerals are generally colourless in thin section with the exception of some
    garnets, spinels, fluorite, and others.

    - Isotropic minerals composed of Fe, Mn, Mg, etc., are generally darker with full color than
    those composed of K, Na, Ca, etc.

    - Colorless isotropic minerals may be sometimes be masked by the color of the mounting
    medium.

    - Colorless isotropic mineral lack chromophores and hence are transparent in thin section.

    - Colored isotropic minerals retain their color in PN condition.


    4.Refractive Index (RI) of the Mineral:

    - The RI of the mineral is noted as a comparison.

    - The RI of the mineral may either exceed that of the mounting medium or be less than that

    of the mounting medium.

    - Colorless minerals generally show lower RI compared to its mounting medium.


    - Pale to full colored minerals have RI greater than their mounting medium (Canada balsam

    or epoxy paste).

    5. Relief of the Mineral:

    - The degree of visibility of minerals in thin section defines the relief of minerals.

    - The degree of relief is proportional to its RI.

    - Colorless minerals have low relief.

    - Pale to full colored minerals have intermediate to high relief respectively.

    - Depending on the RI of the mounting medium, minerals may display low or moderate or

    high relief.

    - The relief of the mineral is noted as appropriate: Low, medium or high.


    6. Mineral Cleavage:

    - Clear and distinct straight lines within minerals is defined as cleavage.

    - Cleavage may be:

    a. occur as a set and being parallel to one another.


    b. occur as a set of intersecting lines diagonal or perpendicular to one another.

    c. occur as two or more sets with acute intersections.

    - Cleavage lines and are lines of weakness.

    - They appear as dark lines as they nearly form a discontinuity in the overall mineral

    structure.

    - Light passing through the cleavage line (air - lower RI) is refracted and directed towards

    the mineral (higher RI) and hence the line appears dark.

    - Cleavage lines are sharp in coloured minerals in PN condition.

    - Colorless and pale coloured minerals can possess cleavage and may have to be viewed

    after light reduction using the iris diaphragm.

    - The cleavage is noted as present or absent.


    - The degree of cleavage development is noted as: perfect, good, distinct or poor.

    - Curved lines or non linear cracks are not cleavage and are designated as fractures.

    - The cleavage is related to the optical and crystalline character of the mineral while the

    fracture is not.
    Types of Cleavage:

    i. One set: These cleavages occur as parallel lines without any visible intersections and

    end abruptly at the boundary of the mineral.


    ii. Two sets:

    - The cleavages occur as sets of parallel lines intersecting one another at acute or obtuse

    angles (depending on the observer).

    - The acute or obtuse cleavage angles have a diagnostic character in mineral identification

    and vary with mineral group and type.


    iii. Three sets: Three intersecting sets of cleavages. These cleavages appear as triangular

    or parallelogram or rhomb like patterns on the mineral.


    Method to ascertain type and sets of cleavage present: Microscope procedure -

    a. Adjust the microscope.

    b. View the mineral and adjust the focus. Colored minerals may display prominent

    cleavage lines in the PN condition.

    c. The iris diaphragm may be adjusted till the mineral becomes dim with distinct cleavage

    lines.

    d. If more sets of cleavage are suspected to be present, the focus may be adjusted and

    cleavage present in the lower portions of the mineral may become visible.
    Cleavage Angle

    - The cleavage angle of intersecting cleavage lines is diagnostic of some mineral groups

    and may be measured.

    - One set may be brought parallel to the NS cross hair.

    - The stage reading is noted.

    - The mineral is now rotated until the other cleavage set becomes parallel to NS cross hair.

    - The stage reading is again noted.

    - The difference between the first and second stage readings gives the cleavage angle.
    7. Mineral alteration

    - Metamorphosed minerals may display some form of crystal boundary alterations as

    overgrowths, crude zoning, mineralization within internal cleavages or fractures or cracks.

    - The type of alteration is noted as: boundary, overgrowth, zoned, or internal type. The

    mineral formed by alteration may be identified if well developed.


    Spinel (Sp) replaced by corundum (Corun), garnet (Gar) replaced by chlorite or biotite

    (Chlo, Biot).

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