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Memorandum
To:

Professor Eller

From:

Cameron Carlson

Date:

February 22, 2016

Subject:

Writing to Define and Describe

The following are the extended technical definition and the developed technical description as
requested. Optical mineralogy is the topic defined for both the definition and description, and
below the audience, problem, and placement is outlined.
Audience:
The expected audience for both the developed technical description and extended technical
definition is for undergraduate geologists, whom are taking an introductory course on optical
mineralogy. These students are likely half way to obtaining a bachelors of science in geology and
have a well-rounded sense of the general field, but have no prior experience in the discipline of
optical mineralogy. A firm exposure in chemistry will encourage the understanding of the field.
Problem:
Optical mineralogy is a discipline of mineralogy which falls under the field of geology, and
while the two fields are similar, they are not the same. Optical mineralogy is important because
the process and practicality expands into multiple fields such as biology, material synthesis, and
even tracking terrorist. Having a fundamental understating of the characteristics and optical
properties of minerals give an insight on the conditions where and how minerals form. The
purpose of a technical description and extended technical definition is to interest students, so that
they may use and apply this basic knowledge to further areas of study.

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Placement:
The placement for the developed technical description and extended technical definition would
be used in a class synopses or syllabus. This provides an overview and insight of the following
material on optical mineralogy. A slight scientific background or exposure caters to the
environment for the use of the definition, which promotes optical mineralogy for other science
majors, likely in an online PDF or website format.

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Definition of Optical Mineralogy

What is Optical Mineralogy?
Optical mineralogy is a sub-discipline of geology that assesses the chemical, crystal, and optical
structures of a mineral. This is possible with the use of three primary tools; such as the scanning
electron microscope (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), and the polarized light microscope (PLM).
The Science of Optical Mineralogy
Optical Mineralogy first began as far back as the 1800s but most of the advancements came in
the 1960s with improved technology. The basis for optical mineralogy is microscopes and the
fact that materials follow rules that can be mathematically derived. Mineralogy can be further
broken down into wet chemistry, where minerals obtain chemical formulas in addition to names.
Naming minerals is another field in its self, which can quickly become confusing, but there are
college courses for this reason.
Description of Optical Mineralogy
The Use of Optical Mineralogy in Geology
Geology is the study of earth and its process, which at its core, often involves understanding
different types of rocks and where they come from. Minerals are the building blocks for rocks,
and elements make up minerals, thus it is important to understand the basic components.
Mineralogy is a mature science, in that further advances are rare, but this is because minerals and
elements follow distinct rules that are predictable. With this knowledge, we can apply it to the
different types of minerals and environments they form in.
Typical Optical Processes
All minerals fall into different categories according to their optic class, crystal matrix, atomic
formation, and refractive index. We understand that objects in three dimensional spaces have
three axes. The three axes are X, Y, and Z, but in mineralogy the axes are assigned the Greek

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notation alpha, beta, and gamma. Based on how atoms pair, they form a unit cell or the most
basic repetition of a crystal or mineral. For this reason, a mineral or crystal can be placed into
one of three optic classes. The optic classes are isotropic, uniaxial, and biaxial. Each class
refracts light in different directions or slows light down on the axes, and for this reason optic
classes are a way to consistently identify a specific type of mineral.
Explanation of Primary Tools
Three tools were previously mentioned for the use of optical mineralogy and will be further
explained; the SEM, ERD, and PLM. While all three are very useful, most are typically
unattainable for
dollars;
these tools to

private use. The cost of a scanning electron microscope begins at a million

similarly, an ERD is half a million dollars. The high cost typically limits
universities and large companies. Polarized Light Microscops are
commonly used because of their low cost and ease of use.
Figure 2. Scanning electron
microscope used to identify
elements and minerals.

will briefly explain

how each one works and the advantages.
An SEM is easy to use and can give a
high resolution image of a crystal or

mineral, but more importantly it

uses a laser to identify every element present.

This makes classifying and identifying minerals quick. Professor Tom Williams from the
University of Idaho says, An SEM is like playing a video game, just point and shoot. The XRay Defractor (ERD) is a useful machine for determining crystal structures, but not necessarily
their composition. Lastly, the PLM uses two light filters called a polarizer. A mineral is placed
between the two filters and will refract light in certain ways or give off a specific color scheme.
These are known as optical properties and can be associated with identifying the mineral.
Note No one tool is completely accurate and all three are typically used in conjunction for
confirmation the mineral or crystal.

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The Uses for Mineralogy
As mentioned before, there are many uses for optical mineralogy outside of geology. A few
interesting concepts to relate with optical mineralogy are biology, forensic science, and even jet
engines.
The word asbestos is often misunderstood, and in mineralogy means long and fibrous. Nearly
any mineral, given the correct conditions, can take on the shape of an asbestos mineral.
Biologists have identified six different minerals to be carcinogenic when inhaled into the lungs.
These minerals were first found to only be contained in building materials and could be avoided,
but more research suggests that even farm dust can be considered asbestos.
On the topic of dust, dust can even be used for national security and forensics. In one case, the
CIA contacted optical mineralogists to analyze dust samples found on a backpack which
contained a bomb. Since minerals form in such a distinct environment they can be traced back to
their origins, similar to a finger print. The mineral identified could only be found at two locations
on the globe, one of which was near the crime scene. Through this process a suspect was
identified matching the dust on their clothes with the dust from the backpack.
Figure 1. Cross polarized asbestos forming mineral in a Polarized Light Microscope (PLM)
(Peterson 2015)
How might jet engines and
minerals be related? We
know engines are made of
metal and metal is either one
element or a composition of
elements. To take this one
step further, metals form
crystal structures exactly like
minerals. The structures
become stronger if crystals are allowed grow by slow cooling of the material. The engineers of

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the Rolls Royce turbojet engine for Boeing have found a way to grow single metal crystals. This
means that parts subjectes to extremely high stress, such as a jet engine fan blade, can ultimately
be grown as one single crystal.
There are increasing applications for mineralogist, optical mineralogist, and geologist in the
evolving world. Geologist should have a firm grasp on minerals and optical mineralogy before
truly understanding the broader field.

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Works Cited
Dyar, M. Darby, and Mickey E. Gunter. Mineralogy and Optical Mineralogy. Chantilly, VA:
Mineralogical Society of America, 2008. Print.

"JEOL USA, Inc. - Scanning Electron Microscopes, Transmission Electron

Microscopes." JEOL USA, Inc. - Scanning Electron Microscopes. Web. 21 Feb.
<http://www.jeolusa.com/>.

2015.

Peterson, James. "Geological Society of America Publications." Geological Society of

America Publications. 5 Mar. 2012. Web. 21 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.gsapubs.org/>.