Identification Tables for Common Minerals in Thin Section

These tables provide a concise summary of the properties of a range of common minerals. Within "iii$ Colour in TS etc: the range of colours for each mineral the tables, minerals are arranged by colour so as to is given, together with a description of any pleochroism. 1ote that these are colours seen in thin0section, not hand0specimen. help with identification. If a mineral commonly has The latter will always be much darker and more intense than a range of colours, it will appear once for each thin section colours. colour.
"iv$ I: the total range of refractive inde( shown by the

To identify an unknown mineral, start by answering mineral with this coulour is shown! This covers any range due to compositional variation by solid solution, as well as the the following uestions! two or three refractive indices of anisotropic minerals. "#$ What colour is the mineral? "%$ What is the relief of the mineral? "v$ elief ! is described verbally, followed by a sign "&$ Do you think you are looking at an igneous, indicating whether the relief is positive or negative "ie greater metamorphic or sedimentary rock? or less than the mounting medium of the thin0section 0 #..+$. 'o to the chart, and scan the properties. Within each colour group, minerals are arranged in order of increasing refractive inde( "which more or less "vi$ !"tinction: angles are only given where minerals corresponds to relief$. This should at once limit you usually show a linear feature such as a cleavage and2or long to only a few minerals. )y looking at the chart, see crystal faces. 3or plagioclase feldspars "stippled$ the e(tinction angles given are those determined by the Michel0 which properties might help you distinguish between the possibilities. Then, look at the mineral 4evy method "see a te(tbook for details$. again, and check these further details.
Minerals with refreactive indices close to #..+ have low relief, those with much higher or lower refractive inde(es will have high relief.

"vi$ Int# $igure! this gives details of the interference figure. 5ny numbers given refer to the value of %6 "normally a Notes: range is given$, followed by the optic sign. 3or unia(ial minerals the word 78ni7 is given, followed by the sign.9our "i$ Name! names listed here may be strict mineral names "eg course may or may not have covered interference figures. If andalusite$ , or group names "eg chlorite$, or distinctive not, ignore this section: variety names "eg titanian augite$. These tables contain a personal selection of some of the more common minerals. "vii$ %irefr! )irefringence is described verbally, In some *emember that there are nearly +,,, minerals, although -./ cases the ma(imum is given as a colour, in other cases you of these are rare or very rare. The minerals in here probably will need to cross0refer to an interference colour chart. make up -./ of medium and coarse0grained rocks in the crust. "viii$ T&inning etc#!, a few notes about twinning, or other internal features of crystals may be given. If no twinning is "ii$ IMS! this gives a simple assessment of whether the mentioned, then the phenomenon is not common in thin mineral is common in igneous "I$, metamorphic "M$ or section, but this does not mean that it 1;6;* occurs. sedimentary "S$ rocks. These are not infallible guides 0 in particular "i($ Notes! general tips on appearance, occurrence and distinguishing features. May include indication of whether the mineral is length fast or slow 0 again a feature not covered in all courses 0 but a useful and easily0determined property. many igneous and metamorphic minerals can occur occasionally in sediments. )ear this in mind, even if minerals are not marked as being common in sediments.
John Faithfull 1998

Are these tables any good? Do you like them? Do they work? I would welcome any comments which might impro e their usefulness! In particular" I would be grateful if you could let me know of any errors you find! #ther iews on layout or content also welcome! John Faithfull manager$museum!gla!ac!uk!
Mineral IM S Colour in TS etc. COLOURLESS fluorite !#!lci"e +orthocl!se+ "icrocli#e !lbite 4pl!giocl!se5 oligocl!se 4pl!giocl!se5 #epheli#e cor$ierite IS I I, S I, S I, I, colourless, blueish or purple colourless colourless colourless colourless colourless 1.43 1.4( 1.-.1.-3 1.-.1.-3 1.-.1.-4 1.-31.-1.-31.-1.-31.-/ 1.-4 -1.-: 1.-4-.11.--1.-/ 1.--1.:1.-:1.-3 1.-:1.:1 1.-/1.-( 1.:01.:4 1.:01.:/ v. high "o$ v.lo) v.lo) v.lo) 6v.lo) 6v.lo) 6v.lo) lo) 6v.lo) 6 v.lo) 6 lo) 6 1.-.3 4,ichelLev'5 -.0 to -1. 4,ichelLev'5 -1. to 1. 4,ichelLev'5 0 ISOTRO IC /0, -ve 30, -ve /0-30, 6ve /0-(0, -ve or 6ve U#i -ve 40-30, "ostl' -ve /0-(0, -ve or 6ve U#i 6ve .3-3( 4,ichelLev'5 /0-(0, -ve or 6ve U#i -ve 40--. 4,ichelLev'5 0 -.6 4,ichelLev'5 c!..0 0 30-(0 -ve 30-40, -ve 30-(0 -ve 30-33, -ve /0-(0, 6ve vv )e!* lo)1 up to gre' lo)1 up to gre' lo) 1 up to cre!" lo)1 up to )hite lo)1 up to $* gre' lo) 1 up to )hite lo) 1 up to p!le gre' lo) 1 up to cre!" lo) 1 up to )hite e2tre"e. i#*'-buff lo) 1 up to cre!" high1 up to up. II or$er lo) 1 up to cre!";'ello) "o$ to high1 up to "i$ II or$er. "o$1 up to lo) II or$er so"eti"es r!$i!ti#g he2!go#!l, stripe$, or u#t)i##e$. %lbite t)i#s !lo#g le#gth, !lso C!rlsb!$ 6 others r!re %lbite t)i#s !lo#g le#gth, !lso C!rlsb!$ 6 others rho"bic l!"ell!e %lbite t)i#s !lo#g le#gth, !lso C!rlsb!$ 6 others Carlsbad (2 al!es" cross# atc %lbite t)i#s !lo#g le#gth, !lso C!rlsb!$ 6 others %lbite t)i#s !lo#g le#gth, !lso C!rlsb!$ 6 others RI Relief Extinction Int. Figure Birefr. Twinning etc. Notes

L!te "i#er!l i# gr!#ite s!#$sto#es. &igh -ve

Usu!ll' i# grou#$"!s cr'st!ls. Colourless !#

Ofte# turbi$. ,!' sho)

T)i##i#g ver' $isti#cti

Co""o# i# lo)-gr!$e !#$ u#t)i##e$ - c!# b o# "ore c!lcic pl!gioc

I ,

colourless colourless.

I# ig#eous roc*s ofte# Cr'st!ls i# ig#eous ro %b-rich ri"s. %#-rich c T)i##i#g $isti#ctive - o Euhe$r!l 2ls bloc*'1 h !#he$r!l. Ofte# clou$' sc!rce else)here. ,ostl' fou#$ i# lo)-pr i$e#tif' - ofte# loo*s li co!rse gr!i#e$ roc*s. h!loes !rou#$ 8irco#s

!#$esi#e 4pl!giocl!se5 9u!rt8 l!br!$orite 4pl!giocl!se5 c!lcite b'to)o#ite 4pl!giocl!se5 "uscovite !#orthite 4pl!giocl!se5 tre"olite 4!"phibole5 !#thoph'llite
4ortho!"phibo le5

I,

colourless

I, S I,

colourless colourless

I# ig#eous roc*s, ofte# ig#eous roc*s ofte# re ri"s. %#-rich cores "! T)i##i#g $isti#ctive - o Usu!ll' irregul!r gr!i#

I, S I,

colourless colourless

lo) to "o$ 6 lo) 6

I# ig#eous roc*s ofte# Cr'st!ls i# ig#eous ro %b-rich ri"s. %#-rich c T)i##i#g $isti#ctive - o Relief usu!ll' ch!#ges sectio# u#less st!i#e$

I, S , , ,

colourless. colourless colourless colourless

lo) 6 lo) 6 "e$ 6 "e$ 6

I# ig#eous roc*s ofte# Cr'st!ls i# ig#eous ro %b-rich ri"s. %#-rich c T)i##i#g $isti#ctive - o fl!*es )ith 1 perfect c 6 "!#' "et!"orphic

%lbite t)i#s !lo#g le#gth, !lso C!rlsb!$ 6 others

%#orthite co""o#er i# 8o#e$. T)i##i#g $isti#

Cr'st!ls usu!ll' elo#g "!rbles5. E#$ sectio# cle!v!ge !lo#g le#gth

I# ,g-rich "et! roc*s p!r!llel e2ti#ctio#. Le#

John Faithfull 1998

Mineral

IM S

Colour in TS etc COLOURLESS 4co#t$5

RI

Relief

Extinction

Int. Figure

Birefr.

Twinning etc.

Notes

!cti#olite 4!"phibole5 !p!tite !#$!lusite olivi#e

, I, , I

colourless to p!le gree# colourless. colourless or v. p!le pi#* 4pleochroic5 colourless

1.:01./0 1.:31.:1.:31.:: 1.:31.3/ 4=e rich higher5

"e$. 6 "o$ 6 "o$high 6 "o$high6

10-.0 0 0 0

/--30, -ve U#i -ve /0-(0, -ve ,g rich1 30-(0 6ve, =e rich -0-(0 -ve .0-30, 6ve -0-(0 -ve 4ver' ,g-rich o#es 6ve5 -0-/0, 6ve

"o$-high1 up to "i$ II or$er lo) - gre' lo)1 up to )hite. high1 up to up. II or$er, or III i# =erich o#es. "o$1 up to "i$ II or$er. lo)-"o$1 up to I or$er re$.

Cr'st!ls usu!ll' elo#g!te. co#t!i#i#g b!s!ltic $etritus sho) 1 cle!v!ge !lo#g le#

Usu!ll' !s ti#' elo#g!te cr $isti#ctive. Le#gth f!st usu

Restricte$ to lo)- "et!pe +chi!stolite+ v!riet' h!s cro str!ight e2ti#ctio# $isti#ctiv Cr'st!ls ofte# e9u!#t or ro serpe#ti#e, or 'ello) or gre i# "et! "!rbles. =e olivi#e colour and clea!age$ and

silli"!#ite orthop'ro2e #e

, I,

colourless colourless or p!le gree#re$ pleochrois"

1.:-1.:3 1.:-1./3

high 6 "o$high 6

0 0

Cr'st!ls usu!ll' fi#el' !cic Le#gth slo). &igher briefri )ith biotite. Co""o#est i# b!sic !#$ u E#$ sectio#s sho) . cle!v cle!v!ges, pleochrois", !

$iopsi$e!ugite cli#op'ro2e# e spi#el *'!#ite epi$ote

I,

colourless or p!le bro)#ish or gree#ish colourless, or bro)#, gree# or bl!c*. colourless. colourless to 'ello)-gree#> "!' be )e!*l' pleochroic

1.::1./: 1./11.36 1./11./3 1./11./(

high 6

3---0

,o$ -high1 up to up. II or$er ISOTRO IC

?ot u#co""o#. %lso sector 8o#i#g.

,uch soli$ sol# !#$ v!ri!t %lso i# "et! "!rbles, !#$ cle!v!ges 4(0 $eg.5 $isti#c

I, , I,

high 6 high 6 high 6 up to 30, but ofte# #e!r 0 usu!ll' 0 c!. 3-, -ve :0-(0, -ve

lo)1 up to I or$er 'ello) high1 up to III or$er> so"eti"es !#o"!lous blue. ISOTRO IC

?ot u#co""o#.

Tr!#sp!re#t spi#els "!i#l' gr!$e "et!pelites. @eep b isotropic. ,!' rese"ble g! ,o$er!te to high gr!$e "e gr!i#s. ,!' sho) "!rgi#! birefri#ge#ce, !ssoci!tio#

I# lo) gr!$e "et!"orphic roc*s. Ofte# sho)s $isti#c =re9ue#tl' sho)s f!i#t 'el

g!r#et

I,

colourless to pi#*ish

tit!#ite

I,

colourless or p!le bro)#.

1./41.31 for "ost colourle ssg!r#et s 1.3-..11 1.(...01

v. high 6

I# )i$e r!#ge of "et! roc* "!' h!ve : or 3 si$es i# th biotite etc, )hich "!' sho)

v. high 6 v. high 6 0

1/-40, 6ve U#i 6ve

e2tre"e pi#*' buff colours &igh1 up to III or$er

Occ!sio#!l.

8irco#

I,

colourless 4usu!ll'5

I# i#ter"e$i!te !#$ !ci$ ig $i!"o#$-sh!pe$ rho"bic birefri#ge#t gr!i#s ofte# $o or!#ge to $ull blue. cr'st!ls usu!ll' ti#' or s"! Cirefr. Lo)er th!# tit!#ite. se$i"e#ts.

John Faithfull 1998

Na%e

IM S

Colour in TS etc. &REEN

RI

Relief

Extinction

Int. Figure

Birefr.

Twinning etc.

Notes

biotite

I,

chlorite

I,

p!le to $eep gree#ish bro)#, or bro)#. leochrois" "o$er!te to stro#g. usu!ll' p!le gree# !#$ )e!*l' or #o#-pleochroic

1.-41.:4 1.-/1.:3 4usu!ll' 1.-/1.:05 1.:11.:1.:11./6 1.::1./: 1.:/1./3 1./11.36 1./11./(

"o$ 6

0 to cle!v!ge 0-10 to cle!v!ge

0-.-

&igh - p!rtl' "!s*e$ b' $eep colour v.lo)-lo)1 up to gre'. Usu!ll' !#o"!lous blue, purple, or bro)#. "o$1 up to "i$ II or$er "o$1 up to "i$ II or$er. ,!' be "!s*e$ b' colour. "o$-high1 up to up. II or$er. lo)1 up to I or$er re$ ISOTRO IC high1 up to III or$er> so"eti"es !#o"!lous blue. &igh1 up to III or IE or$er. ?ot u#co""o#. ?ot u#co""o#. ?ot u#co""o#.

erfect "ic! cle!v!ge i# h!ve #o cle!v!ge, lo) b !#$ "et! roc*s1 r!re i#

!cti#olite 4!"phibole5 +hor#ble#$e+ 4!"phibole5 cli#op'ro2e# e orthop'ro2e #e spi#el epi$ote

I,

p!le bluish gree# colourless. ,ore =e-rich o#es "ore gree#. ,!' be )e!*l' pleochroic. gree#ish to gree#ish bro)# or bluish gree#. ,!r*e$l' pleochroic. !le gree#-$eep gree# !#$ )e!*l' or #o#pleochroic p!le gree# to pi#* pleochrois" gree#, bro)# or bl!c*. ?ever pleochroic. gree#ish 'ello) colourless !#$ )e!*l' pleochroic. gree#, )ith 'ello)ish or bro)#ish ti#ts. De!*l' to stro#gl' pleochroic. GELLOD 'ello) to bro)# or blue pleochroic 'ello)ish gree# colourless !#$ )e!*l' pleochroic. p!le 'ello) or bro)#ish 'ello)> )e!*l' pleochroic $eep gol$e# 'ello)> to bro)# or bl!c*> "!' be op!9ue.

lo)"o$ 6. R!rel' higher . "o$ 6

Ofte# h!r$ to obt!i#.

Eer' co""o# i# lo) gr! pro$uct, esp. of biotite, i colour !#$ lo) or !#o"!

10-.0

30-3-, -ve -0-30, -ve "ostl' .0--0. (0-/0, 6ve or -ve :0-(0, -ve

Eer' co""o# i# lo)-gr! pleochrois" $isti#guishe relief. Le#gth slo).

"o$high 6 "o$high 6 "o$high 6 high 6 high 6

10-30

Colour !#$ pleochrois" !#$ i# "e$. gr!$e "et! correl!te$ )ith gr!$e1 fr cle!v!ges !t 1.0 $eg o#

I, I, I, I,

v!ri!ble 0

@eepl' coloure$ v!rietie birefri#ge#ce lo)er th!# "et!"orphic roc*s, "!'

leochroic o#es usu!ll'

usu!ll' 0

Tr!#sp!re#t spi#els "!i high-gr!$e "et!pelites. gr!i#s, isotropic. ,!' re I# lo) gr!$e "et!"orph roc*s. Ofte# sho)s $isti

!egiri#e 4cli#op'ro2e #e5

1./41.33

high-v. high

0-:

30-(0, -ve

Ofte# !cicul!r cr'st!ls, o e2ti#ctio# !#gle $isti#cti

tour"!li#e epi$ote

I, I,

1.:11./0 1./11./(

"o$high 6 high 6

0 usu!ll' 0

U#i -ve :0-(0, -ve

st!urolite rutile

, I,

1./41./: ..:0..(0

high 6 e2tre "e 6

0 0

30-(0 6ve U#i, 6

"o$-high1 up to up II or$er. high1 up to III or$er> so"eti"es !#o"!lous blue. lo) 1 up to I 'ello) e2tre"e, but "!s*e$ b' colour

%ccessor' "i#er!l i# so elo#g!te )ith curve$ tri!

I# lo) gr!$e "et!"orph roc*s. Ofte# sho)s $isti

Co""o#, but r!rel' visible i# thi#-sectio#.

Restricte$ to "et!pelite Colour, relief !#$ lo) bir

,!i#l' see# i# co!rse-g be!ri#g5. %lso i# other ig E2tre"e relief, i#te#se c

John Faithfull 1998

Na%e

IM S

Colour in TS etc. BR'(N

RI

Relief

Extinction

Int. Figure

Birefr.

Twinning etc.

Notes

biotite tour"!li#e bro)# !"phibole

I, I, I,

p!le to $eep bro)#, or gree#ish bro)#. Stro#gl' pleochroic. bro)# !#$ blue or 'ello)> "!r*e$l' pleochroic. Usu!ll' $eep bro)# gree#ish bro)# !#$ stro#gl' pleochroic p!le purplish bro)#> "!' be ver' )e!*l' pleochroic

1.-41.:4 1.:11./0 1.:11./:

"o$ 6 "o$high6 "o$high 6

0 0 0-30

0-.U#i -ve -0-30, -ve

!ugite, tit!#i!# 4cli#op'ro2e #e5 spi#el g!r#et 4"el!#ite5 tit!#ite

1.:(1./4

high 6

40-4-

c!. :0, 6ve

I, I I,

colourless - bro)#, gree# or bl!c*. ?ever pleochroic. p!le 'ello)ish-bro)# to $eep bro)# 4ofte# colour 8o#e$5. ?ever pleochroic. p!le bro)# to colourless. R!rel' sho)s )e!* pleochrois". bro)# to bl!c*, or $eep gol$e# 'ello)> "!' be !l"ost op!9ue. UR LE, LIL%C or CLUE bluish to purple or colourless. blue to gre'-blue or l!ve#$er> )e!*l' to stro#gl' pleochroic blue to bro)#ish-'ello), !#$ "!r*e$l' pleochroic

1./11.36 1.3-1.3( 1.3(..0..:0..(0

high 6 v. high 6 v. high 6 e2tre "e 6 0 1/-40, 6 U#i, 6

high1 p!rtl' "!s*e$ b' $eep colour. "o$-high1 up to up II or$er. "o$- high1 up to III or$er "!s*e$ b' $eep colour "o$1 II or$er> so"eti"es !#o"!lous colours. ISOTRO IC ISOTRO IC e2tre"e pi#*' buff colours e2tre"e, but "!s*e$ b' colour

erfect "ic! cle!v!ge i# " !#$ little or #o pleochrois" e!sil' !ltere$ to chlorites !

leochroic !#$ $!r*est )h sectio#s. Ofte# colour 8o#

?ot u#co""o#.

Di$e r!#ge of co"positio# !#$esites !#$ b!s!lts. &ig pleochroic th!# biotite !#$ o# e#$s of 2ls> 1 o# lo#ger

?ot u#co""o#> sector 8o#i#g co""o#.

% "!Hor "i#er!l i# !l*!li#e properl' !#$ sho) !#o"!

Tr!#sp!re#t spi#els "!i#l' gr!$e "et!pelites. @eep b isotropic. ,!' rese"ble g! Restricte$ to u#$ers!tur!te

Occ!sio#!l.

rutile

I,

I# i#ter"e$i!te !#$ !ci$ ig $i!"o#$-sh!pe$ rho"bic birefri#ge#t gr!i#s ofte# $o or!#ge to $ull blue. ,!i#l' see# i# co!rse-gr!i be!ri#g5. %lso i# other ig#e E2tre"e relief, colour !#$

fluorite gl!ucoph!# e4!"phibole5 tour"!li#e

IS , I,

1.43 1.:01.:/ 1.:11./0

v. high "o$ 6 "o$high6 0-: 0 0--0 -ve. U#i -ve

ISOTRO IC "o$1 up to lo) II or$er "o$-high1 up to up II or$er. ,!' be "!s*e$ b' colour. Lo)-"o$1 but "!s*e$ b' i#te#se colour.

Ofte# sho)s purple p!tche see# !t :0 $eg, or . !t /0 or i# voi$s i# li"esto#e. &i Restricte$ to high , lo)-T $isti#ctive. Le#gth slo). ! h!ve ri"s of "ore gree#is

leochroic !#$ $!r*est )h sectio#s. Ofte# colour 8o#

?! !"phiboles

i#*' blue-bl!c* to "u$$' bro)#> "!r*e$l' pleochroic

1.:11./1

"o$ high 6

usu!ll' I 30 to lo#g cle!v!ge

v!ri!ble -ve or 6ve.

Usu!ll' i# ig#eous roc*s1 i pl!tes r!ther th!# euhe$r!

John Faithfull 1998

Na%e

IM S

Colour in TS etc. RE) or *IN+

RI

Relief

Extinction

Int. Figure

Birefr.

Twinning etc.

Notes

g!r#et

I,

pi#*ish to colourless. ?ever pleochroic. p!le gree#-pi#* pleocrois" "!' be $eep bloo$-re$, or op!9ue. v. p!le pi#* to colourless 4pleochroic5 %LTER%TIO? RO@UCTS

orthop'ro2e #e he"!tite !#$!lusite

I, I, ,

1./41.3. for re$ g!r#ets 1.:/1./3 ..(-3.. 1.:31.::

v. high 6 "o$high 6 v. high 6 "o$high 6 0 h!r$ to see, 0 (0-/0, 6ve or -ve h!r$ to see /0-(0, -ve

ISOTRO IC

i#* g!r#ets i# "et!b!site "!' h!ve : or 3 si$es i# th biotite etc, )hich "!' sho)

lo)1 up to I or$er 'ello) or re$. h!r$ to see lo)1 up to )hite.

leochroic o#es usu!ll' b I# tholeiitic b!s!lts, !#$esi r!rel' pelites.

?or"!ll' op!9ue i# TS - g seco#$!r' "i#er!l i# "!#'

Restricte$ to lo)- "et!pe +chi!stolite+ v!riet' h!s cro str!ight e2ti#ctio# $isti#ctiv

+sericite+ +i$$i#gsite+ +serpe#ti#e+ +ur!lite+ +leuco2e#e+

I, S I I, I, I,

turbi$ p!le gre'ish or p!le bro)#ish $eep 'ello) to 'ello)bro)# colourless p!le gree# ver' i#te#se turbi$ gre' or gre'ish bro)#

+li"o#ite+

I, S

$eep bro)#, #e!rl' op!9ue

high1 II-III or$er high1 II-III or$er lo)1 up to gre' or )hite "o$1 up to "i$ II or$er e2tre"e, but h!r$ to see $ue to fi#e gr!i# si8e. -

=i#e gr!i#e$ "ic! repl!ci# i# pl!giocl!ses. Co!rse#s

@eep 'ello) -bro)# highl' overgro)# b' l!ter fresh o

Repl!ces olivi#e., ofte# !s #et-li*e or fibrous gre' bire

#!"e give# to fibrous p!le roc*s. The over!ll sh!pe o

%l)!'s pseu$o"orphs =e g!bbros.

Usu!ll' fi#e-gr!i#e$ ver' $

John Faithfull 1998

emem'er! the tables on previous pages give only a slection of the more common minerals. )rief properties of a few additional minerals are given below. 9ou may wish to cross reference these to fuller descriptions in your favourite te(tbook. Some additional colourless igneous minerals!
leucite! "feldspathoid$ moderate 0ve relief< very low dark grey birefringence shows comple( twinning, a bit like microcline. =henocrysts in ultra0potassic lavas. >nce seen never forgotten. sodalite! "feldspathoid$ low0mod 0ve relief. Isotropic. ;uhedral (ls or irreg. grains in 1a0rich syenites and trachytes. >ften blue in hand specimens. cancrinite! "feldspathoid$ low0mod 0ve relief. Irregular or slighly elongate grains with nepheline. Mod. )irefr! up to mid II order 0 bright for such an inconspicuous colourless mineral. Common minor phase in nepheline syenites. sanidine! "feldspar$ low 0ve relief. ?ls usually clear. )irefr. low! up to pale grey. ;(tinction parallel to cleavage, but not to long (l sides. %6 low! ,0#% 0ve. Carlsbad twins common. 8sually phenocrysts in trachytes and rhyolites. anorthoclase! "feldspar$ low 0ve relief. )irefr. 4ow! up to pale grey. %6 ., 0ve "only feldspar like this$< may show very fine grained cross0hatched twinning "like microcline$. =henocrysts in alkaline lavas etc. melilite! mod @ve relief. 4ath0like (ls "like plagioclase shape$, often with indented sides. 4ow birefr., often anomalous blue. =arallel e(tinction. 8nia(ial 0ve. In Si0deficient igneous rocks, with nepheline, augite, olivine, leucite, perovskite phlogopite! "mica$ moderate @ve relief< platy, perfect cleavage< colourless to pale brown, slightly pleochroic. III order birefringence. =arallel e(tinction. Mostly in meta limestones, plus A0 rich ultrabasic igneous rocks. &ollastonite! mod0high @ve relief. Columnar or fibrous aggregates. )irefr up to I order orange. ;(tinction parallel "cf tremolite$. *are in igneous rocks! in carbonatites and some iBolites. topa(! mod0high @ve relief. 8sually anhedral in TS. )irefr like uartC, but %6 .,. # perfect cleavage. 'ranites and rhyolites, with tourmaline, fluorite and muscovite. pigeonite! "clinopyro(ene$ mod0high @ve relief. Stout prismatic (ls in tholeiitic basalts and andesites, also irregular grains in gabbros and dolerites. May invert to op( host with cp( lamellae or blebs. )irefr. mod! up to II order. %6 low! ,0+, "distinctive$. >ften twinned. ;(tinction angle %,0+, to cleavage. mona(ite! high @ve relief. 8sually small or tiny stout prismatic (ls looking like titanite. )irefr. 8p to I6 order, but may be very low due to radiation damage. Dispersion r E v on isogyres "cf titanite r F v$. In granites and carbonatites.

Some additional colourless metamorphic minerals!

scapolite! low0mod @ve relief. Columnar (ls or poikilitic plates. )irefr. up to mid II order "high for an inconspicuous mineral$. ;(tinction parallel to (ls or cleavage. 8nia(ial 0ve. Metabasites and marbles. talc! low0mod @ve relief. 4ooks like mica 0 perfect cleavage. Gigh birefr. up to III order. Gard to tell from muscovite, but assocd with Mg rich minerals, and soapy in hand specimen. phlogopite! "mica$ moderate @ve relief< platy, perfect cleavage< colourless to pale brown, slightly pleochroic. III order birefringence. =arallel e(tinction. Mostly in meta limestones, plus A0 rich ultrabasic igneous rocks. )adeite! "clinopyro(ene$ mod0high @ve. 'ranular or fibrous aggregates, or rough grains. 'ood (ls very rare. )irefr, mod! up to mid II order. ;(tinction up to ++ to cleavage. %6 H, @ve. In high0pressure "blueschist2eclogite facies$ meta rocks. la&sonite! *elief mod @ ve. >ften as late euhedral rhomb0shaped or rectangular porphyroblasts, often inlcusion rich, in blueschists. May resemble colourless epidote, bit lower birefringence! up to mid II order. (oisite! "epidote group$ relief high @ve. ;longate grains or aggregates. # cleavage along length. =arallel e(tinction. 1ormally shows deep blue anomalous interference colour. In metabasites and metacalcareous rocks. clino(oisite! "epidote group$ relief high @ve. ;longate grains or aggregates. # cleavage along length. =arallel e(tinction. )irefringence anomalous! blue0grey and greenish yellow "hard to describe, but easy to remember once seen$. Mostly in metabasites and metacalcareous rocks. wollastonite! vesuvianite! siderite!

prehnite! pumpellyite! pectolite! Ceolite! gypsum! barite! anhydrite! corundum! *elief high to v. high @ve. =rismatic, tabular or skeletal crystals common. May have faint blue, yellow or pink Cones. *hombohedral parting2cleavage common. )irefr. weak, but often up to low II order due to e(tra thickness of ultra0hard corundum (ls. =arallel e(tinction in long (ls. Twinning common. 8nia(ial 0ve. In hornfelses, high grade pelites and syenitic gneisses. green sediments! glauconite, chamosite green metamorphic! Badeite, pumpellyite, chloritoid 'ro&n igneous! perovskite, allanite 'ro&n metamorphic! stilpnomelane 'ro&n sediments! siderite, sphalerite yello&! monaCite, siderite,corundum, piemontite 'lue! corundum red*pink! piemontite, corundum opa ues general guide to pyro(enes general guide to amphiboles staining and carbonates "ferroan calcite, Mg0calcite, dolomite, aragonite etc..$.