LECTURE 6 (3 hours): ISOTROPIC AND UNIAXIAL MINERALS INTRODUCTION To understand the optic properties of isotropic, uniaxial and biaxial

minerals, distribution of the velocity of light and distribution of RI in the mineral is studied with the help of RVS's and Indic !ri", respectively.

OPTICAL PROPERTIES O# ISOTROPIC MINERALS

RVS O# ISOTROPIC CR$STALS The velocity of light (1/n) is same in all directions in isotropic substances ie., gases li uids, amorphous solids! li"e glass and minerals crysalli#ing in isometric or cubic system. Therefore, the RVS, which is defined or described as the surface that forms after a certain time by the all light rays originating from a source within an isotropic media, will be a sphere. $ere wave fronts will be perpendicular to the ray directions and wave normals will always be parallel to the direction of propogation (#I%& 6&')& $ence, any section cut through the RVS of an isotropic substance will produce a circle whose radius is fixed. Thus, along any section the velocity of light will be fixed, and vibration direction of light will be same as that of the polari#er ie., %&'. Therefore, if analy#er is in position there will be no light passing through the ocular. Thus, mineral will remains extinct, f(rthermore, at con!inuous ("!inc!ion because extinction is continued when the stage is rotated. INDICATRIX O# ISOTROPIC CR$STALS )ince velocity is proportional to l/ n , and n remains constant at all directions the indicatrix will be a sphere with a radius of n (#I%& 6&))& *ny section cut through the indicatrix representing a section cut parallel to that direction of the isotropic mineral will produce a circle. )ince all radii of a circle are e uivalent, the indicatrix section indicates that there will be only one RI*n, and there is no constraint on the orientation of the vibration direction of the light as it passes through the isotropic material. $ence, the vibration direction of light ray will remain parallel to that of the lower polaroid, ie., %&'. +onse uently as it is explained above, when light reaches to the analyser, it will be completely absorbed, and the crystal will be at continuous extinction (#I%& 6&3). OT+ER OPTICAL PROPERTIES O# ISOTROPIC MINERALS Co,our: is important to distinguish various species of isotropic mineral, ie., pale purple (#,u), dar" greeen (S-i), pin"red (% r) etc. R(,i(.: very important + ,, low, #,u, moderate, % r, very high. RI, very important, ie., #,u-C/, % r..C/ (TA/LE 6&')& C,( 0 1(, very important in + , cubic, #,u / directions.

#r c!ur(: % r shows distinct fracture. Ano2 ,ous nd Ano2 ,ous E"!inc!ion: sometimes shown by % r species such as %ro3Andr. Co2-osi!ion , 4onin1: may be shown by most isotropic minerals. Typical eg., %ro3Andr. Inc,usions: may be important as in % r)ieve texture. A,!(r !ion: % r commonly alters along fractures and along edges.

OPTICAL PROPERTIES O# UNIAXIAL MINERALS

INTRODUCTION 'ave front is always perpendicular to the direction of propagation for ordinary light ( ), but only perpendicular to the direction of propagation for extra&ordinary light ( ) in special sections //1 (principle section) or r (basal section) to c&axis. 0n obli ue sections wave fronts will also be obli ue to the direction of propagation (#I%& 6&5)& $ence, wave normal is along the propagation direction for ordinary light, but along the propagation direction for extra&ordinary light at special sections. 1therwise, it is at an angle to the propagation direction. RVS O# UNIAXIAL CR$STALS The white light coming from %&' vibrating polari#er is split into two plane polari#ed light vibrating in planes perpendicular to each other. 1/ rays vibrate in planes induding the c&axis, whereas 1/ rays vibrate in planes perpendicular to the c&axis. *long the c&axis 1/ and 1/ have the same velocity. This uni ue direction is called the o-!ic "is, and hence, uni "i , 2in(r ,s. 0n uniaxial crystal 1/ is also called ordinary ray, because its velocity is constant throughout the crystal. Therefore, RVS of ordinary light is a sphere (#I%& 6&6). 1n the other hand, the velocity of 1/ , which is also called extra& ordinary ray, changes with respect to the crystallographic axes. 0ts velocity is e ual to 1/ along c&axis or the optic axis, however its velocity increases or decreases vibrating parallel to c&axis and perpendicular to the hori#ontal crystallographic axes, where : : c in tetragonal or : : : c in hexagonal crystals. Therefore, the RVS of 1/ is an elliptical spheroid (#I%& 6&6)& 0f 1/ increases to a maximum value where 1/ .1/ the uniaxial mineral is said to be n(1 !i0(, 1/ is #AST, 1n the other, hand if 1/ decreases to a minimum value where l/- the uniaxial mineral is said to be and -osi!i0(, and 1/ is SLO7. Therefore, in uniaxial crystals the RVS is a double surface and can be visuali#ed as sections cut parallel to c&axis or as a /&2 diagram (#I%& 6&6)& *s a rule of thumb,

ellipse within a circle means the mineral is positive, while, circle within an ellipse means the mineral is negative. INDICATRIX O# UNIAXIAL CR$STALS )ince there are two principle optical directions there are two RI's of and o. *t sections perpendicular to c&axis ie., at basal sections, two rays have same RI, ie. 3. $owever, at sections parallel to c&axis, ie., principle sections the value of varies either . to a maximum value, or - to a minimum value. 0f . the shape of the elliptical spheroid is -ro, !( (egg shape) and the mineral is said to be -osi!i0(. 0f -) the shape of the elliptical spheroid is o8, !( (discus shape) and the mineral is said to be n(1 !i0( (#I%& 6&9)& ORIENTATION O# MINERAL SECTIONS There are three different types of sections in uniaxial minerals that have different optical properties (#I%& 6&:), )ections cut perpendicular to c&axis, *lso "nown as basal sections. 'hen RVS and the Indic !ri" are considered there are two rays vibrating perpendicular to each other, but their velocities 1/31/ and RI's 3. Therefore, these sections behave li"e isotropic minerals when they are observed with crossed polar and show con!inuous ("!inc!ion. These sections do not show -,(ochrois2. *lso as we shalt shortly see, they are very usef(l to determine the o-!ic si1n of the uniaxial crystals. )ections cut parallel to c&axis, *lso "nown as principle sections. *gain when RVS and Indic !ri" are considered two rays show maximum difference in velocities 1/. or -1/ or RI's . or -, respectf(lly. Therefore the sections show 2 "i2u2 8ir(.rin1(nc( and - r ,,(, ("!inc!ion, ie. mineral becomes extinct when mineral outlines or prismatic cleavages are parallel to %&' and 4&) directions. These sections are not useful for o-!ic si1n determination. )ections cut obligue to c&axis, *t these sections difference between the velocities 1/ and 1/ and RI's and have intermediate values. They show in!(r2(di !( 8i.(rin1(nc( but show - r ,,(, ("!inc!ion. These sections are also used for o-!ic si1n determination. OPTIC #I%URE AND DETERMINATION O# OPTIC SI%N 'hen basal sections which show continuous extinction are observed with convergent polari#ed white light (#I%& 6&;)< high power ob5ective (conosco-ic viewing) and analyser with 6ertrand 7ens are in&position, there appears an image of uniaxial optic figure at the bac" of ob5ective lens (#I%& 6&'=))& The c(n!(r(d uni "i , o-!ic .i1ur( consists of a central bloc" cross, with illuminated uadrants which sometimes show concentric colour bands. 'hen the stage of microscope is rotated blac" cross, also called iso1>r(s (%&' ! 4&)) remains stationary. 6ecause the c&axis of the mineral is aligned parallel to the axis of the microscope. The centre of the isogyre arms crossing indicates the emergence of the optic axis or c&axis of the uniaxial mineral. 0sogyres form due to

annulling effect of and when they become parallel to the %&' polari#er8s and 4&) analyser8s polari#ation planes, as we explain when discussing extinction (#I%& 6&'')& $owever, within the uadrants and interfere to produce illumination and 1stnth order inteference bands which are also called isochro2(s& The number of interference bands are related to the birefrigence of the mineral and the thic"ness of the mineral grain (#I%& 6&')). 0n o8,i?u( s(c!ions the optic axis of the mineral is not aligned with the axis of the microscope. Therefore, when the microscope stage is rotated the isogyre arms also rotate. This is called o..3c(n!(r(d .i1ur( (#I%& 6&'3). 0n order to determine the position of the arms again the 9nd uadrant is chosen, and the procedure is repeated as above to determine the optic sign. 0n -rinci-,( s(c!ions the arms of the isogyres are momentarily observed and move into the field of view from opposing uadrants and move out rapidiy as the microscope stage is rotated. This figure is called ., sh .i1ur( and it is not usually used to determine the optic sign. O-!ic si1n of the uniaxial mineral is determined by comparing the velocity of l/ as to whether it is #AST or SLO7. The comparison is made with the predetermined SLO7 direction of an cc(ssor> -, !(. There are three accesssory plates with SLO7 direction indicated on them. 0t is generally perpendicular to its length. The 2ic 3-, !( has : retardation giving 1st order white (#I%& 6&'5 @8), the 1>-su23-, !( has retardation giving 1st order red (#I%& 6&'6), while ?u r!43-, !( (#I%& 6&'6)or ?u r!4 3A(d1( has variable retardation from ; to < giving 1st to <th order interference colours. 0f the phase difference between 1/ and accesorry plate is cons!ruc!i0(, ie., if both are SLO73SLO7, respectively, ddi!ion of interference colours result! in contrast, if phase difference is d(s!ruc!i0(, ie., if #AST3SLO7, respectively, su8!r c!ion of interference colours occur. 0t is convenient to choose the 9nd uadrant for determination of the optic sign of the mineral, because in this uadrant 1/ vibrates parallel to 4%&)' direction which is parallel to the SLO7 direction of the accessory plate when it is inserted into the accessory plate slot. 0f ADDITON occurs when the accessory plate is inserted SLO73 SLO7 interaction has occurred which shows that the mineral is POSITIVE, vice versa, if SU/TRUCTION occurs, this shows #AST3SLO7 interaction has occurred, hence, the mineral is NE%ATIVE.

'hen a mica&plate is used isogyres become white and there appears two blac" dots on the 4'(1st) and )%(/rd) uadrants if the crystal is positive, or vice versa (#I%& 6&'5 @8). 'hen a gypsum&plate is used, and if the mineral has several isochromes, isogyres become red and there appears two blac" isochromes at the 1st order red isochromes positions on the 4'(1st) and )%(/rd) uadrants, if the crystal is positive, or vice versa. 0f the positive mineral and has low birefringence, again isogyres become red, and 4%(9nd) and )'(=th) uadrants become blue&green of the 9nd order, while 4'(1st) and )%(/rd) uadrants become yellow of the 1st order (#I%& 6&'6). 'hen a uart#&wedge is used as an accessory plate, upon continuous insertion of the plate, movement of interference colours result. 0f the mineral is positive, colours move&in from 4%(9nd) and )'(=th) uadrants towards optic axis, and move&out from 4'(1st) and )%(/rd) uadrants, and vice versa. SI%N O# ELON%ATION The uniaxial minerals of the tetragonal and hexagonal symmetry are generally elongated parallel to the c&axis. Therefore, they have elongated principle sections with 1/ ray vibration parallel to the elongation direction. 'hen elongated crystals are rotated into 4%&)' direction under normal or!hosco-ic viewing, accessory plate is inserted and its effect on the birefringence of the mineral surface is determined. )imilariy, if ADDITION occurs the mineral is said to have POSITIVE ELONGATION or it is SLOW-ALONG, vice versa, if SUBTRACTION occurs the mineral is said to have NEGATIVE ELONGATION or it is FAST-ALONG. OTHER OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF UNIAXIAL MINERALS Shape: Euhedral crystals of tetragonal system may produce square basal and rectangular elongated prismatic-sections. Euhedral crystals of hexagonal system may produce triangular ( Tou.) or hexagonal (Apa., Qua) basal -and rectangular elongated prismaticsections with triangular tips. Colou : oloured minerals li!e Tou show excellent pleochroism in prismatic principle sections, basal sections show no pleochroism since ". Clea!a"e: Cal may show perfect rhombic cleavage. Pa #$%": Tou and Apa may show parting perpendicular to caxis.

Rel$e&: Qua has low relief# Apa and Tou moderate relief# while Cal twin!les. RI$ very important most mineral RI'CB B$ e& $%"e%(e: Qua and Apa very low %st% order greyish white, Tou low to moderate %st order yellow to &nd order green# Cal very high up to 'th order beige. E)#$%(#$o%: parallel in prismatic section *FIG+ ,+-./, Cal may show symmetrical extinction with respect to rhombic cleavage *FIG+ ,+-0/, most basal sections as in Apa and Qua show continuous extinction+ Co1po2$#$o%al 3o%$%": Tou may exhibit compositional (oning. S$"% o& Elo%"a#$o%: Apa and Tou show characteristic lengthfast orientation. Op#$( S$"%: Qua is positive, and Apa4 Tou4 Cal are negative.