Identifying minerals in thin

section
Common sedimentary rock
minerals
 Quartz SiO2
Properties

Light anisotropic-uniaxial Extinction possibly undulatory

Behavi
or
Colour/Pleo colourless/none Interference Colours first-order white/gray (yellow possible especially
chrois (birefringence) if the thin section is too thick)
m
Relief low positive Optic Sign positive

Cleavage none; displays conchoidal 2V none

fracture

Crystal anhedral granular crystals which Alteration Products none

Form are highly irregular

Twinning not visible in thin section

Quartz is a tectosilicate that displays low relief, low birefringence and lacks
cleavage and twinning.
 Calcite: CaCO3
Properties
Light Behavior anisotropic-uniaxial Extinction inclined or
symmetrical

Colour/Pleochr white or colourless/none Interference Colours creamy high-

oism (birefringence) order
colours.
Relief moderate to high negative-changes with rotation Optic Sign negative

Cleavage three rhombohedral 2V 15°

Crystal Form crystals are rhombohedral, although they are usually Alteration Products dolomite ?
anhedral

Twinning lamellar-parallel or oblique to long diagonal or parallel to

the edges of the cleavage rhombs

Calcite is a carbonate which displays high birefringence, a change in relief with

rotation, polysynthetic twin lamellae (common), and rhombohedral cleavage.
 Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2
Properties

Light Behavior anisotropic-uniaxial Extinction inclined or symmetrical

Colour/Pleochroi colourless, may have brownish Interference Colours creamy high-order white or gray
sm colour/none (birefringence)

Relief low negative to high positive- Optic Sign negative

changes with rotation

Cleavage perfect-rhombohedral 2V none

Crystal Form crystals are rhombohedral, and they Alteration Products may be pseudomorphically replaced by
are usually euhedral other carbonates

Twinning lamellar-parallel to long or short

diagonal

Dolomite is a carbonate that displays high birefringence, a change in relief with

rotation, twin lamellae, rhombohedral cleavage, and is usually euhedral. It is
common in sedimentary rocks.
 Orthoclase KAlSi3O8

Properties
Light Behavior anisotropic-biaxial Extinction inclined, parallel if cut
perpendicular to (010)
Colour/Pleochr colourless, commonly clouded/none Interference Colours first-order white
oism (birefringence)
Relief low negative Optic Sign negative

Cleavage two intersect at 90 degrees 2V 40°-70°

Crystal Form crystals are tabular parallel to (010), elongate Alteration Products sericite or clay (kaolinite)
parallel to c or a-axis
Twinning carlsbad

• Orthoclase is a k feldspar that has low relief, inclined extinction ,low

birefringence, and a larger 2V angle than sanidine. It is common in
intrusive igneous rocks; it also occurs in some metamorphic rocks.
 Plagioclase
CaAl2Si2O8(albite) - NaAlSi3O8(anorthite)

Properties
Light Behavior anisotropic-biaxial Extinction inclined

Colour/Pleochr colourless, may be clouded or none Interference Colours first-order white/gray

oism (birefringence) (yellow when more
calcic)
Relief low negative or positive Optic Sign neg. or pos.

Cleavage two intersect at 90° 2V 45°-102°

Crystal Form crystals are tabular parallel to {010}, elongate parallel to Alteration Products sericite, saussurite
the c or a-axis, x-sections are rectangular, zoning is
common.
Twinning albite, carlsbad, or pericline

• Plagioclase is a tectosilicate that has low relief, inclined extinction,

and displays polysynthetic twinning.
 Microcline KAlSi3O8
Properties

Light Behavior anisotropic-biaxial Extinction inclined

Colour/Pleochro colourless, may be clouded/none Interference Colours first-order

ism (birefringence) white

Relief low negative Optic Sign negative

Cleavage two intersect at 90° 2V 65°-88°

Crystal Form crystals are tabular parallel to {010}, elongate parallel to Alteration Products sericite or
c or a-axis clay

Twinning tartan

Microcline is a K feldspar that displays tartan twinning, and has

inclined extinction, low relief, and low birefringence.
 Muscovite KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Properties

Light anisotropic-biaxial Extinction parallel

Beha
vior
Colour/Ple colourless/none; exhibits "bird's eye maple" extinction Interference second or third-
ochr Colours order (vivid
oism (birefringence) colours)
Relief moderate positive-slight change with rotation Optic Sign negative

Cleavage one perfect cleavage 2V 30°-47°

Crystal crystals are micaceous flakes with an irregular outline, tabular Alteration Products clay minerals
Form parallel to (001), rarely euhedral with hexagonal outline

Twinning rarely visible in thin section

Muscovite is a phyllosilicate that has high birefringence, lacks colour

under ppl, and has one cleavage direction.
 Biotite
K(Mg,Fe)3AlSi3O10(OH,O,F)2
Properties

Light Behavior anisotropic-biaxial Extinction parallel

Colour/Pleochroism brown, brownish-green, reddish-brown/light tan or Interference Colours third or fourth-order

pink to shades of brown and green; exhibits (birefringence) (may be masked by
its colour)

Relief moderately high positive, low if Mg-rich Optic Sign negative

Cleavage one perfect cleavage 2V 0°-25°

Crystal Form euhedral, tabular crystals parallel to {001}, with a Alteration Products chlorite, sometimes clay
roughly hexagonal x-section, sometimes minerals, magnetite
micaceous grains with irregular form.
Twinning rarely visible in thin section

Biotite is a phyllosilicate that displays pleochroism, parallel

extinction, and one perfect cleavage direction
 Chlorite
(Mg,Al,Fe)3(SiAl)4O10(OH)2(Mg,Al,Fe)3(OH)6

Properties

Light Behavior anisotropic-biaxial Extinction parallel (maximum of 9°)

Colour/Pleochr light to medium green/colourless to Interference first-order white or yellow; anomalous

oism shades of green Colours purple or brown colours possible
(birefringence)
Relief low to moderate Optic Sign negative or positive

Cleavage one perfect on {001} 2V 0°-40°/0°-60°

Crystal Form crystals are commonly platy (as in Alteration Products fairly resistant, some clay-minerals, iron-
micas), they are rarely tabular oxides
parallel to (001)
Twinning composition planes on {001} are difficult
to recognize

Chlorite is a phyllosilicate which is colourless to green, may display pleochroism,

with a low birefringence.