Minerals

under the microscope

The MINERALS you need to know
quartz
microcline
plagioclase
muscovite
biotite
amphibole
pyroxene
olivine
garnet
calcite
 quartz quartz

quartz
quartz

PPL XPL
Quartz
grains in sandstone
 plagioclase

plagioclase

PPL XPL
Plagioclase
with repeated twinning
 microcline microcline

PPL XPL

Microcline
grain in centre showing its distinctive cross-
hatched twinning
 muscovite

muscovite

PPL XPL
PPL XPL

Muscovite
clear under PPL but with perfect cleavage and
bright interference colours
 feldspar
feldspar

biotite

biotite

PPL : lower view rotated to show

pleochroism

XPL
biotite
Biotite
pleochroic with one perfect cleavage; strong
natural colour masks polarisation colours
making look greenish under XPL
 amphibole

amphibole

PPL : lower view showing pleochroism

XPL
Amphibole
pleochroic with 2 cleavages at 60o or 120o
distinguishing it from biotite or pyroxene
 pyroxene
pyroxene
enlarged

PPL XPL
Pyroxene
well-formed crystal seen here with 2 cleavages at 90 o:
brightly coloured under XPL
 olivine
olivine

plagioclase plagioclase

PPL XPL
Olivine
looks like a stained-glass window; bright interference
colours and thick black fractures
 garnet
garnet

PPL
Garnet XPL

rounded crystal, transparent under PPL but goes

extinct under XPL
 calcite calcite

PPL XPL

Calcite
may show both high and low relief, transparent under PPL with
2 perfect cleavages at 120o. Under XPL it shows pearly shades