Uniaxial Crystals Between Crossed Polars

Optical Mineralogy Lecture/ Laboratory Adamson University 08 February 2013 2nd Sem

Course Outline
Lecture PART 1
Theories of Light Isotropic and Anisotropic Substances Uniaxial minerals: indicatrix, interference figures, optic sign Biaxial minerals: optic sign, 2V angles, optical orientation, dispersion of biaxial minerals

Course Outline
Laboratory PART 1
The polarizing microscope Orthoscopic examination of minerals under plane polarized light Orthoscopic examination of minerals under crossed polarized light Conoscopic examination of minerals I: Uniaxial crystals Conoscopic examination of minerals II: Biaxial crystals

Course Outline
Lecture PART 2
Introduction to optical properties of common rock forming minerals
Neso-silicates: Olivine group, Garnet group, Al2Sio5 group, staurolite Soro-silicates: Epidote group, Ring silicates: Tourmaline Chain-silicates: Pyroxene group, Amphibole group Sheet-silicates: Mica group (Muscovite, biotite, talc), chlorite group Tecto-silicates: Silica group, feldspar groups, feldspathoids Non-silicates Carbonate, sulfates, phosphate (apatite), opaque minerals, spinel, rutile; volcanic glass

Course Outline
Laboratory PART 2
Optical properties of common rock forming minerals
Optical examination of comon rock-forming minerals (I): Nesosilicates, sorosilicates and cyclosilicates Optical examination of common rock-forming minerals (II): inosilicates: pyroxene and amphibole Optical examination of common rock-forming minerals (III) phylosilicates Optical examination of common rock-forming minerals (IV): tectosilicates Plagioclase composition determination Optical examination of common rock-forming minerals (V): nonsilicates

Extinction
Isotropic crystals remain dark in all positions between crossed polars Anisotropic crystals however also behave (i.e. remain dark) when viewed between crossed polars When? WHEN LIGHTS MOVES PARALLEL TO THE OPTIC AXIS How? Light from polarizer passes through the crystal and is completely cut out by the analyzer

Extinction
WHEN VIBRATION DIRECTION OF LIGHT FROM THE POLARIZER COINCIDES EXACTLY WITH ONE OF THE VIBRATION DIRECTION OF THE CRYSTAL How? Light passes through the crystal as either the O ray or the E ray to be completely eliminated by the analyzer

Extinction

Quartz grain experiencing extinction

Extinction
Parallel Extinction when traces of the cleavage planes appear as irregularly shaped parallel lines. Extinction along cleavage planes occurs because these are parallel to the vibrations direction of the polars.

Extinction
Parallel Extinction when traces of the cleavage planes appear as irregularly shaped parallel lines. Extinction along cleavage planes occurs because these are parallel to the vibrations direction of the polars. Inclined or Oblique Extinction When cleavages or crystal boundaries lie at oblique angles to the planes of vibration of the two polars.

Extinction
Inclined or Oblique Extinction When cleavages or crystal boundaries lie at oblique angles to the planes of vibration of the two polars. Hornblende (left);
Hedenbergite (right)

Extinction
Parallel Extinction when traces of the cleavage planes appear as irregularly shaped parallel lines. Extinction along cleavage planes occurs because these are parallel to the vibrations direction of the polars. Inclined or Oblique Extinction When cleavages or crystal boundaries lie at oblique angles to the planes of vibration of the two polars. Symmetrical Extinction Minerals forming cleavage patterns with rhombic cross sections

Elongation
Occurs in minerals which exhibit elongated habit and straight edges (i.e. lathlike, needles, long crystals etc.) Positive elongation When vibration direction of the slow ray of the crystal is parallel to the long direction (a.k.a. length slow) Negative elongation when vibration direction of the slow ray lies across the crystal in the short direction (a.k.a. length fast)

Elongation
Hexagonal and tetragonal crystals are often elongated on the c-axis or have prismatic cleavage that forms splintery fragments parallel to the c-axis

Elongation
Hexagonal and tetragonal crystals are often elongated on the c-axis or have prismatic cleavage that forms splintery fragments parallel to the c-axis

Interference Color
Colors produced when analyzer is inserted Generated as a result of birefringence, where ray of light is retarded relative to the other Different degrees in retardation give different interference colors Used to identify certain minerals

Interference Color
Phase difference: P=/ where, =t (n2-n1), where t=thickness of mineral converted to millimicrons (1m=10-6 mm), n2 is the greater index of refraction, n1 is the lesser index of refraction for a particular orientation

Interference Color
If one ray is an integral number of wavelengths (n) behind the other, the interference results in darkness If the path difference is (2n-1) /2 (i.e. /2, 3 /2), the waves reinforce one another to produce maximum brightness

Interference Color
Interference colors appear as complementary colors when one wavelength in the spectrum is eliminated (i.e. when darkness appears) Different orders of interference:
1st order: 1 2nd order: 2 3rd order: 3

Interference Color
Dependent on:
Orientation Thickness Birefringence Relationship: For a given orientation, the thicker the crystal and the greater the birefringence, the higher the order of interference color

Interference Color
Accessory Plates Indicate fast- and slow-ray vibration direction and are mounted in frames between the objective and the analyzer
Gypsum Mica Quartz

NOTE: when the positions of the vibration directions of the rays are known, turn mineral from extinction to maximum interference color

Interference Color
Accessory Plates
Gypsum Mica Quartz Made by cleaving a gypsum to such thickness that in white light it produces a uniform red interference color (i.e. red of first order) Employed in cases where there is strong double refraction

Interference Color
Accessory Plates
Gypsum Mica Quartz Made with thin mica flake, cleaved to a thickness that for yellow light it yields a path difference of a quarter of a wavelength (/4). Used when there is weak double refraction

Interference Color
Accessory Plates
Gypsum Mica Quartz Elongated wedge-shaped piece of quartz with vibration direction of the fast ray (omega) parallel to its length and the slow ray (epsilon) across its length Used when there is very strong double refraction

Interference Color
Quartz Wedge: a. Cross section b. In monochromatic light =560 nm c. Colors in white light

Interference Color
As thicker portions of the wedge are placed in the optical path, the path difference of the rays passing through it also increases, producing succession of interference colors. The number of orders depends on the wedge angle: The greater the angle the more orders per unit of length

Interference Color
When viewed between crossed polars in monochromatic light, it is crossed by alternating dark and light bands: dark where the path difference is n and brightest where the path difference is (2n 1) / 2

Interference Color
In white light, a succession of interference colors is observed that resemble colors seen in thin oil films on water

Interference Color
Microscope set-up and apparent interference colors resulting from insertion of quartz wedge and/or analyzer
=t (n2-n1)

From Kerr

Interference Color
The difference between wavelengths of opposite ends of the spectrum is: First dark band for violet occurs almost in first position of maximum intensity for red
Violet band: ~410 m Red band: ~700 m Resulting interference: Orange = ~620 m =t (n2-n1)

Interference Color
Thickness in Micrometers Birefringence

Path difference

Anomalous Interference Color

Abnormal production of interference colors, often in low order May be produced as a result of strain in the minerals Example: Vesuvianite Berlin Blue (interference color does not follow the color chart); Chlorite, zoisite, brucite etc.

Uniaxial Crystals in Convergent Polarized Light

Interference figures are seen when properly oriented crystal sections are examined in convergent polarized light To see interference figures:
set microscope to conoscopic mode Using high power objective

Uniaxial Crystals in Convergent Polarized Light

Interference figures are seen when properly oriented crystal sections are examined in convergent polarized light

Uniaxial Crystals in Convergent Polarized Light

Principal interference figure of uniaxial crystal, the optic axis figure, is seen when one views the crystals parallel to the c-axis
Black cross superimposed on the rings of interference color: Radial dashes indicate the vibration direction of the E ray and those at right angle with the vibration
directions of the O ray. WHERE THESE

VIBRATION DIRECTIONS ARE PARALLEL OR NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE VIBRATION DIRECTIONS OF THE POLARIZER AND THE ANALYZER, NO LIGHT PASSES AND THUS THE FORMATION OF THE DARK CROSS.

Uniaxial Crystals in Convergent Polarized Light

Principal interference figure of uniaxial crystal, the optic axis figure, is seen when one views the crystals parallel to the c-axis
Interference of these rays produce concentric circles of interference colors. The center is black with no interference, but moving outward there is a progression from 1st order to 2nd and so forth, interference colors.

Uniaxial Crystals in Convergent Polarized Light

Principal interference figure of uniaxial crystal, the optic axis figure, is seen when one views the crystals parallel to the c-axis
If crystal section is of uniform thickness, no change will be noted as it is moved horizontally. HOWEVER, if thickness varies, the positions of the colors change with horizontal movement. Increase in thickness will result to higher order interference colors.

Uniaxial Crystals in Convergent Polarized Light

Figures below show centered optic axis figures as obtained on a crystal plate whose axis coincides with the axis of the microscope; as the stage is rotated, no movement of the figure (cross) is seen.

Uniaxial Crystals in Convergent Polarized Light

When the optic axis of the crystal makes an angle with the axis of the microscope, the black cross is no longer symmetrically located in the field of view. The center of the cross moves as stage is rotated, where the bars of the cross remain parallel to the vibration directions of the polarizer and analyzer.

Uniaxial Crystals in Convergent Polarized Light

Flash Figure an interference figure produced by uniaxial crystals when optic axis is normal to the axis of the microscope. How does it look like? When the crystal is at extinction, the figure is an ill-defined cross occupying a large space; Upon stage rotation, the cross breaks into two hyperbolas, which immediately leave quadrants with optic axis.

Determination of Optic Sign

Accessory plates may be used to determine optic sign How is this done? With the use of an accessory plate, where the vibration directions of the slow ray and fast ray are known, you can determine whether the E ray of the crystal is slower (positive crystals) or faster (negative crystals) than the O ray and thus determine the optic sign.

Determination of Optic Sign

Accessory plates may be used to determine optic sign How is this done? With the use of an accessory plate, where the vibration directions of the slow ray and fast ray are known, you can determine whether the E ray of the crystal is slower (positiv crystals) or faster (negative crystals) than the O ray and thus determine the optic sign. Example:

The most marked effect produced by the mica plate is the formation of two black spots near the center of the black cross in the quadrants where subtraction occurs

Questions?

Biaxial Crystals

Biaxial Indicatrix
Biaxial indicatrix is a triaxial ellipsoid with its 3 axes Lengths of the semiaxes are proportional to the refractive indices alpha along x, beta along y, and gamma along z. Planes xy, yz, xz They all are ellipses and each has the length of its semimajor and semiminor axes proportional to refractive indices.

Biaxial Characteristics
Acute bisectrix interference figure Parallel position; 45 degrees position

Curvature of isogyre n optic axis figure From 0 degrees to 90 degrees 2V

Relation of 2V To 2E

Optic sign determination of negative crystal with gypsum plate Acute bisectrix figure (a) Optic axis figure (b)