Atlas of Common

Rock-Forming Minerals
in Thin Section
To be used in conjunction with
GEOL 303A and 303B laboratories
Brandon Browne
Department of Geological Sciences
California State University, Fullerton
Preface
This atlas has been prepared for undergraduate geology majors
who require a text for practical classes involving microscope
identification of rock-forming minerals in igneous and
metamorphic rocks. In an effort to keep this book both simple and
widely useful, I limited the number of minerals described to 15. I
tried to present the text and pictures in a way so that students with
access to a petrographic microscope and a collection of thin
sections will find it useful. I have deliberately limited the scope of
the text to petrographic and textural characteristics because I
assume that the students using this book will already have some
background in the study of optical mineralogy- this especially goes
for you students who took 303A from me!! All pictures were taken
under relatively low magnification so as to illustrate general
mineral characteristics and inter-relationships with surrounding
minerals. I hope you find it useful. I will be making improvements
every year, so please send any suggestions to me
(bbrowne@fullerton.edu).

Best Regards,

BLB
Fullerton, CA
2007

2
Contents
The 15 common rock forming minerals of this atlas:
1. Olivine p. 4-5
2. Orthopyroxenes p. 6-7
3. Clinopyroxenes p. 8-11
Extinction angles of Pyroxenes p. 12
Two-pyroxene Intergrowth p. 13
4. Hornblende p. 14-17
5. Biotite p. 18-21
6. Muscovite p. 22-23
7. Chlorite p. 24-26
8. Quartz p. 27-30
9. Plagioclase Feldspar p. 31-34
10. Sanidine p. 35
11. Microcline p. 36-38
12. Orthoclase p. 39-40
13. Nepheline p. 41
14. Calcite p. 42
15. Garnet p. 43-44

3
Olivine
(Mg,Fe)2 SiO4
Olivine is the
general name given
to the solid solution
series between
forsterite
(Mg2SiO4) and
Fayalite (Fe2SiO4).

Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• High relief
• 3rd order
birefringence
• No cleavage, Plane Light, FOV = 1mm
instead
commonly
traversed by
randomly
oriented cracks
Occurrence:
• Mafic and
ultramafic
igneous rocks
• Commonly with
CPX, OPX,
Plagioclase, Fe-
Ti oxides,
Serpentine
(alteration)
• Rarely with Qtz
or Kspar
Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

4
Olivine
(Mg,Fe)2 SiO4
Olivine in Dunite/
Peridotite rock
sample from
Strawberry
Ophiolite, central
Oregon.

Plane Light, FOV = 1 cm

Crossed Polarized Light, FOV = 1 cm

5
Orthopyroxene
(Mg,Fe) SiO3
Orthopyroxene
(OPX) is the general
name given to the
solid solution series
between enstatite
(MgSiO3) and
Ferrosilite (FeSiO3).

Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Mod. relief
• 1st order grey,
yellow, and tan
birefringence
Plane Light, FOV = 1mm
• 90º cleavage
angles

Occurrence:
• Mafic,
ultramafic
igneous and
meta. (granulite
facies) rocks
• Commonly with
CPX, Olivine,
Plagioclase, Fe-
Ti oxides,
Chlorite
(alteration)

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

6
Orthopyroxene
(Mg,Fe) SiO3
Orthopyroxene
(OPX) with calcite
and feldspars.
Notice low
birefringence and
90º cleavage.

Plane Light, FOV = 1mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

7
Clinopyroxene
Ca(Mg,Fe)
Si2O6
Clinopyroxene
(CPX) is the general
name given to the
incomplete solution
series between
diopside
(CaMgSi2O6),
Hedenburgite
(CaFeSi2O6) and
Augite
(Ca,Mg,Fe)2Si2O6.

Diagnostic Optical (Diopside in marble) Plane Light, FOV = 1mm

Characteristics:
• Mod. relief
• 2nd order red,
blue, blue-green,
and gold
birefringence
• 90º cleavage
angles

Occurrence:
• Mafic/ultramafic
igneous rocks,
may also be in
diorites and
granodiorites
• Commonly with
OPX, Olivine,
Plagioclase, and (Diopside in marble) Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm
Fe-Ti oxides

8
Clinopyroxene
Ca(Mg,Fe)
Si2O6
Diopside
surrounded by
hornblende and
chlorite in gabbro
sample.

Plane Light, FOV = 1mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

9
Clinopyroxene
Ca(Mg,Fe)
Si2O6
Diopside (reds,
pinks, and blues in
XP) with
plagioclase feldspar
(1st order grays) and
olivine (3rd order
birefringence,
yellowish in PL) in
diabase sample
collected from Mt.
Baldy bowl, CA.

Plane Light, FOV = 1mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

10
Clinopyroxene
Ca(Mg,Fe)
Si2O6
Diopsite (reds,
pinks, and blues in
XP) with OPX (1st
order grays and
yellows) in
pyroxenite sample
collected from
Stillwater Intrusion,
MT.

Plane Light, FOV = 1 cm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 cm

11
Using OPX has parallel extinction
extinction
angles as a
means of
distinguishing
pyroxenes:

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

CPX has inclined extinction

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

12
Two-Pyroxene
Intergrowths

CPX sub-solus
exsolution

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

OPX sub-solvus
intergrowth

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

13
Hornblende
NaCa2(MgFe)4
Al3Si6O22
(OH, F)2
Hornblende is a member
of the amphibole group,
which contains a large
number of different
solid solutions but all
have a similar crystal
structure despite the
large amount of
compositional
variability from one
amphibole to another.

Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics: Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm
• Mod. relief
• 2nd order red,
blue, blue-green,
and gold
birefringence
• 60,120º cleavage
angles
• Green, brown,
tan, reddish,
forms of
pleochroism
• Common
disequilibria
(e.g., zoning or
rxn rims) and
alteration
textures (e.g., to
chlorite) Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm
Occurrence:
• Widely occurs Hornblende in dacite porphyry, Icehouse Canyon, San Bernardino
in virtually all Mtns
types of igneous
rocks. Common
in metamorphic
rocks too.

14
Hornblende
NaCa2(MgFe)4
Al3Si6O22
(OH, F)2
Hornblende in
dacite porphyry
altering to chlorite
at rims (note change
in birefringence at
rim compared to
core)

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

15
Hornblende
NaCa2(MgFe)4
Al3Si6O22
(OH, F)2
Hornblende (green
mineral altering to
chlorite) and titanite
(aka sphene) in
granodiorite sample,
Sierra Nevada

Plane Light, FOV = 0.5 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 0.5 mm

16
Hornblende
NaCa2(MgFe)4
Al3Si6O22
(OH, F)2 Hbl
Example of
hornblende (green, Hbl
tan, and greenish
blue) pleochroism
from Sierra Nevada
granodiorite sample. Hbl
Note 60º and 120º
cleavage angles in
hornblende crystals.

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Hbl

Hbl

Hbl

Cross Polarized Light, stage rotated 60 degrees, FOV = 1 mm

17
Biotite
K(MgFe)3
AlSi3O10
(OH, F)2
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
Biotite
• Mod. relief
• 2nd to 3rd order
birefringence,
but often
masked by
birds-eye
extinction
pattern
• Uniform
cleavage planes Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm
• Brown, tan,
yellow, reddish
pleochroism
• Often altered to
chlorite

Occurrence: Biotite
• Widely common
in nearly all
igneous and
metamorphic
rocks, although
rare in basalts or
andesites
• Commonly
occurs in
clusters of Hbl
and Titanite Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm
with chlorite
alteration

18
Biotite
K(MgFe)3
AlSi3O10
(OH, F)2
Biotite in granite,
Sierra Nevada
Batholith

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

19
Biotite
K(MgFe)3
AlSi3O10
(OH, F)2
Biotite (tan and
brown) with
muscovite (colorless
in PL, 3rd to 4th
order birefringence
in XP) surrounded
by Quartz and
orthoclase in
granite, Sierra
Nevada Batholith
Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

20
Biotite
K(MgFe)3
AlSi3O10
(OH, F)2
Biotite with zircon
inclusions, denoted
by the dark
pleochroic halos
caused by
radioactive decay of
U in zircons.

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

High magnification
of zircon inclusion
and pleochroic halo
in biotite.

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 0.25 mm

21
Muscovite
KAl2
AlSi3O10
(OH, F)2
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Mod. relief
• 3rd to 4th order
birefringence
• Uniform
cleavage planes
• Colorless in PL
• Birds-eye
extinction in XP

Occurrence: Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

• Widely common
in granitic and
pegmatite rocks
and meta-pelitic
rocks (e.g.,
schists, gneiss,
hornfels,
quartzite)
• Rare in mafic
and ultramafic
rocks
• Commonly
occurs with Qtz,
Alkai feldspar
and biotite Muscovite

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

22
Muscovite
Garnet
KAl2
AlSi3O10
(OH, F)2

Muscovite in
garnet-bearing
schist, San Gabriel
Mtns

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Muscovite

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

23
Chlorite
(Mg,Fe,Al)3
(Si,Al)4O10
(OH)2 +
(Mg,Fe,Al)3
(OH)6
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Mod. relief
• 1st order
birefringence,
may have
anomalous blue
or green
birefringence Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm
• No cleavage-
look for
rounded/
shapeless crystal
faces
• Green in PL
Occurrence:
• Widely common
in granitic and
meta-mafic
rocks (e.g.,
greenschists,
meta basalts)
• Rare in
ultramafic rocks
• Commonly
alters epidote,
biotite, hbl,
Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm
producing
titanite as a
Chlorite altering biotite and hornblende in granodiorite
byproduct

24
Chlorite
(Mg,Fe,Al)3
(Si,Al)4O10
(OH)2 +
(Mg,Fe,Al)3
(OH)6
Chlorite altering
hornblende and
biotite (producing
titanite) in
granodiorite from
San Bernardino
Mtns.

Note how
Plane Light, FOV = 0.5 mm
hormblende, which
is already green in
PL, can be
distinguished from
Chlorite in XP due
to Chlorite’s lower
birefringence or
anomalous
interference colors
and anhedral
morphology.

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 0.5 mm

25
Chlorite
(Mg,Fe,Al)3
(Si,Al)4O10
(OH)2 +
(Mg,Fe,Al)3
(OH)6
Chlorite altering
epidote in
granodiorite from
Mt. Baldy, San
Bernardino Mtns.

Note how epidote,

which is yellow in
PL, can be
Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm
distinguished from
Chlorite in XP due
to Chlorite’s lower
birefringence or
anomalous
interference colors
(epidote has 3rd
order birefringence)
and anhedral
morphology.

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

26
Quartz
SiO2
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Low to Mod.
relief
• 1st order
birefringence
(gray and white)
• No cleavage-
look for
rounded faces in
volcanic rocks
• Clear in PL
• Uniaxial +
Occurrence:
Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm
• Widely common
in virtually
every rock type
• Will not occur
in mafic or
ultramafic rocks
• Unstable in
presence of
olivine

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

27
Quartz
SiO2
Quartz (circled) in
granodiorite from
San Bernardino
Mtns, with
hornblende
(altering to chlorite
at rim), biotite, and
feldspar

Note low
birefringence,
amorphous
morphology, and
lack of cleavage Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

28
Quartz
SiO2
Quartz (circled) in
granite from Sierra
Nevada Batholith
with hornblende
(altering to chlorite
at rim), biotite, Fe-
Ti oxides (opaque)
and feldspars.

Note low
birefringence,
amorphous
morphology, and
lack of cleavage
Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

29
Quartz
SiO2
Quartz (circled) in
dacite from Unzen
volcano, Japan is
embayed and
surrounded by
reaction rim of
CPX, plagioclase,
and Fe-Ti oxides.

Note low
birefringence,
amorphous
morphology, and
lack of cleavage
Plane Light, FOV = 0.25 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 0.25 mm

30
Plagioclase
Feldspar
NaAlSi3O8 -
CaAl2Si2O8
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Low to Mod.
relief
• 1st order
birefringence
(gray and white)
• Albite and/or
Carlsbad
twinning
• Oscillatory
zoning if in Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm
volcanic rocks
• Clear in PL

Occurrence:
• Widely common
in virtually
every rock type
• Not ultramafic
rocks

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

31
Plagioclase
Feldspar
NaAlSi3O8 -
CaAl2Si2O8
Plagioclase feldspar
displaying albite
twinning, appearing
as linear striations
through the crystal

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

32
Plagioclase
Feldspar
NaAlSi3O8 -
CaAl2Si2O8
Plagioclase in
andesite lava
erupted from Mt.
Lassen, CA displays
oscillatory zoning

Plane Light, FOV = 0.5 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 0.5 mm

33
Plagioclase
Feldspar
NaAlSi3O8 -
CaAl2Si2O8
Grain mount of
plagioclase chips.

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

34
Sanidine Sanidine in rhyolite porphyry (sill)
(K,Na)AlSi3O8
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Low to Mod.
relief
• 1st order
birefringence
(gray and white)
• Tabular crystals
± Carlsbad
twinning
• Clear in PL
• Biaxial –

Occurrence:
• Only found in Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm
silicic or alkali- Sanidine in rhyolite lava
rich volcanic
rocks such as
rhyolite,
phonolite, or
trachyte.
• May also occur
in high T
metamorphic
rocks of silicic
composition
• Not in
ultramafic or
mafic rocks

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

35
Microcline
KAlSi3O8
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Low to Mod.
relief
• 1st order
birefringence
(gray and white)
• Tartan twinning
• Clear in PL
• Biaxial –

Occurrence:
• Occurs almost
exclusively in Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm
granitic plutonic
such as granite,
monzonite,
pegmatitic, and
syenite
• Commonly
found in
sedimentary
rocks
• Not in
ultramafic or
mafic rocks

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

36
Microcline
KAlSi3O8
Microcline showing
tartan twinning,
which appears as a
cross-hatched
pattern in cross-
polarized light.

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

37
Microcline
KAlSi3O8
Microcline showing
tartan twinning,
which appears as a
cross-hatched
pattern in cross-
polarized light.

Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

38
Orthoclase
KAlSi3O8
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Low to Mod.
relief
• 1st order
birefringence
(gray and white)
• Perthite
Exsolution
Texture
• Clear in PL
• Biaxial –

Occurrence: Plane Light, FOV = 0.5 mm

• Occurs widely
in granitic
plutonic such as
granite,
granodiorite,
monzonite,
pegmatitic, and
syenite
• Commonly
found in
sedimentary
rocks
• Not in
ultramafic or
mafic rocks

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 0.5 mm

39
Orthoclase
KAlSi3O8
Orthoclase in
granite from the
Sierra Nevada
Batholith.

Perthite (sub-
solvus)
exsolution
texture as
observed in
cross-polarized
light is a
diagnostic
identification
tool for
orthoclase in thin Plane Light, FOV = 1 mm
section.

plagioclase

Note how albite

twinning in
plagioclase and
tartan twinning Orthoclase
in microcline
compare to
perthite texture. microcline

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

40
Nepheline
NaAlSiO4
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Low to Mod.
relief
• 1st order
birefringence
(gray and white)
• Tabular and
prismatic habit
• Often with no
twinning
• Clear in PL
• Uniaxial – Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

Occurrence:
• Occurs widely
in syenites and
related alkali-
rich igneous
rocks
(feldspathoid-
rich rocks like
phonolites)
• Commonly
found with
alkali feldspar
and plagioclase,
biotite, leucite,
and Na anf K
ricj amphiboles Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm
• Not found with
quartz

41
Calcite
CaCO3
Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• Low to Mod.
relief
• 4th order
birefringence
(appears gray-
white except in
twinning planes)
• Rhombohedral
Twinning
• Colorless to tan Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 0.5 mm
PL
• Uniaxial –

Occurrence:
• Occurs widely
in sedimentary
and meta-
carbonate rocks
(e.g., marble)
• Found in marble
with garnet,
wollastonite,
diopside,
epidote,
tremolite
• Common as vein
filling mineral
Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1 mm

42
Garnet
(Mg,Fe)3
Al2Si3O12
Note- the chemical
composition of
garnet given above s
a simplification.

Diagnostic Optical
Characteristics:
• High relief
• Isotropic (zero
birefringence)
• Poor cleavage
• Often occurs as
Plane Light, FOV = 1mm
porphyroblastic

Occurrence:
• Widely present
in moderate to
high grade
metamorphic
rocks,
particularly
those with Al-
rich protoliths
(with biotite,
feldspar,
muscovite, and
quartz)
• Also present in
some mantle
xenoliths (with Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm
olivine+OPX)

43
Garnet
(Mg,Fe)3
Al2Si3O12
Garnet with biotite
(note zircon halos),
muscovite, and
quartz in schist from
Catalina Island.

Plane Light, FOV = 1mm

Cross Polarized Light, FOV = 1mm

44