Biaxial Minerals Descriptions

• Olivine
• Pyroxenes
– Orthopyroxene
– Clinopyroxene
• Amphibole
– Hornblende
– Actinolite
• Micas
– Biotite, muscovite, chlorite
• Feldspars
– Plagioclase
– Microcline, orthoclase, sanidine

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Feldspars
Tectosilicates - Si:O = 1:2
• Most abundant group of minerals. Found in
igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
• Two groups of feldspar:
1. Alkali Feldspars
– orthoclase ]
– microcline ] KAlSi3O8
– sanidine ]
– Each of these polymorphs are stable at different
temperatures.
2. Plagioclase Feldspar - variable compositions
– NaAlSi3O8 - CaAl2Si2O8 - NiSi = CaAl
– Albite Anorthite
– General Formula (Na,Ca)Al(Al,Si)Si2O8

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Plagioclase Feldspars
c
• Mixture of Albite (Na-rich) and
Anorthite (Ca-rich).

% Ab % An 001

Albite 100 - 90 0 - 10 110 110

Oligoclase 90 - 70 10 - 30
Andesine 50 - 70 30 - 50 010
Labradorite 30 - 50 50 - 70 b
Bytownite 10 - 30 70 - 90
Anorthite 0 - 10 90 -100

• All are triclinic, with low symmetry,

indicatrix and crystallographic axes do
not coincide a

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

1
 c c Y Y c
Y

010 010
001 001 001

(a) 110 110 (b) 110 110 (c) 110 110

Z
010
b b P b
OAP OA
OAP

X Z

Z X
X
a a a
Y c c
c c
Z
Z
001 010 Y 001 OA
010
P
001 001 010
OAP

110
(d) 110
Z
110 110
110
(e) Z (f) 110
(g) 110 110

OAP
b bY
010 b b

Y
X

a a X
X a a
X

Variations in the optic orientation of the plagioclase feldspars with composition: (a)
high-albite, (b) low-albite, (c) oligoclase, (d) andesine, (e) labradortie, (f) bytownite,
(g) anorthite. Note how the position of the optic axial plane moves with increasing
An content.

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Plagioclase
R.I.
Ab An
nα = 1.527 - 1.577
nβ = 1.531 - 1.585
nγ = 1.534 - 1.590
• variation with composition (figure 15.6, p. 262)

• Low relief
• Low birefringence - maximum 1st order grey or white
• 2VX angle varies from 45 to 102°, +ve or -ve with varying
composition

• Colourless in thin section; non pleochroic may be cloudy in

plane light due to alteration to sericite.

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

80
O PTI C A NG LE (2 V)

90

80
nγ
1.590

1.580
Plagioclase
Refractive Index (n)

nβ
1.570
70
nα

60 Maximum Extinction 1.560

in zone ⊥ to (010)
nε
50
• Physical and optical
Quartz 1.550
RI nω

properties vary with

Extinction Angle

40 ⊥ a Y∧ (010)
1.540
⊥ X Z∧ (001)

30 1.530
composition
⊥ X Y∧ (010)
Sections ⊥ X

20 1.520

Z
Y
• Composition of Plagioclase
10
can be determined to within
0 < 5% An by measuring
Sections ⊥ Y extinction angles which
⊥a
10
⊥ Y X∧ (010) Bxo
reflect variations in the
optical properties due to
⊥X Bxa
20
⊥ Z X∧ (001)

30
variations in composition.
40
X Y

50

Sections ⊥ Z
60

W-E '59, Revised '78, G.F., Brock Univ. 1995

Ab 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 An
Mol. % An
Brock UniversityAlbite Oligoclase Andesine Labradorite Bytownite Anorthite ERSC 2P22 – Brock University
©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

2
 Plagioclase
Cleavage
– 1 perfect cleavage ║ to 001
– 1 good cleavage ║ to 010
– intersect at 93 - 94°
• cleavages control fragment shape and
orientation
• Plagioclase cleavage is best visible with
the aperture diaphragm stopped down
to emphasize the little relief present.

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

glue

cpx

pl

© G.C. Finn, 2005

cpx

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Plagioclase
• Twinning is characteristic of plagioclase.
– absent in small grains, particularly in metamorphic rocks

cpx

pl
pl pl
cpx
cpx

pl

cpx
pl
pl cpx
opx
pl
From D. Schulze, 2004
Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University
©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

3
 Plagioclase
• Twins are based on various twin laws
• Common twin laws are:
1. Albite
• 010 composition plane, polysynthetic or repeated twinning
(these are the twins visible as striations in a hand sample of plagioclase)
2. Pericline
• h01 composition plane, polysynthetic, twofold rotation about b
axis,
3. Carlsbad
• 010 composition plane, penetration twin, twofold rotation
about c axis
• Albite twinning observed in all compositions,
pericline and Carlsbad in intermediate and calcic
plagioclase (An-rich).

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Polysynthetic Consists of numerous twin segments

joined on parallel twin planes
Twin

Albite
Twin pl
Plane
(010 plane)
© G.C. Finn, 2005

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Polysynthetic Consists of numerous twin segments

joined on parallel twin planes
Twin
Albite
Twins
Pericline
Twins

001

pl

010

From: http://www.union.edu/PUBLIC/GEODEPT/COURSES/petrology/ig_minerals.htm
Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University
©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

4
 Contact Joined by a smooth twin plane
separating the segments
Twins Carlsbad-albite Twin Plane

pl

© G.C. Finn, 2005

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Y c
Plagioclase
100 section, ┴ to a axis
001
In PPL - 2 cleavages not at 90°
In XPL - albite and pericline twins
Z
c
010

X
a
010
001

Crystallographic a
b
Orientation

Brock University XPL PPL

ERSC 2P22 – Brock University
©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Y c
Plagioclase
100 section, ┴ to a axis
001
Albite twins are length fast
Pericilne twins are length slow
Z (Fast Ray)

Y c
010

X
(Slow Ray)
a
010
001 Z

Optic X a
Orientation b

Can measure two extinction

angles:
Y ^ 010
Z ^ 001

Brock University XPL PPL

ERSC 2P22 – Brock University
©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

5
 Y c
Plagioclase
010 section, ┴ to b axis
001 In PPL - 1 cleavage ║ to 001
In XPL - pericline twins/zoning
Z

001
X
010
a

c b
Crystallographic
Orientation

a
Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University
©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Y c
Plagioclase
010 section, ┴ to b axis
001
Pericline twins, ║to 001, are length fast
Albite twins not visible
Z (Fast Ray)
X
b
001

X (Slow Ray)

a
010 Y

c Z b
Optic
Orientation
Can measure extinction
angle: X ^ 001
Each zone will have a
separate extinction angle
a
Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University
©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

‘Anomalous’ Extinction
• Chemical Zonation
– Optical properties
vary with chemical
composition,
resulting in varying
extinction directions
for a mineral
• eg. zoned minerals
like plagioclase and From D. Schulze, 2004

olivine

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

6
 Y c

Plagioclase
010 section, ┴ to c axis
001 In PPL - 1 cleavage ║ to 010
In XPL – albite (fast) and pericline (slow)
twins (Fast Ray)
Z X
b

010
X (Slow Ray)
010
a
Z
Y
b c
Crystallographic
Orientation/Optic
Orientation
Can measure extinction
angle: X ^ 010 a

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

Plagioclase
• Optical orientation varies on a regular basis
with composition and provides a means of
determining compositions (Do in Petrology)

Distinguishing Features
– low relief
– colourless
– biaxial
– twinning

Brock University ERSC 2P22 – Brock University

©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn

80
O PTI C A NG LE (2 V)

90

80
nγ
1.590

1.580
Plagioclase
Refractive Index (n)

nβ
1.570
70
nα

60 Maximum Extinction 1.560

in zone ⊥ to (010)
nε
50
• Physical and optical
Quartz 1.550
RI nω

properties vary with

Extinction Angle

40 ⊥ a Y∧ (010)
1.540
⊥ X Z∧ (001)

30 1.530
composition
⊥ X Y∧ (010)
Sections ⊥ X

20 1.520

Z
Y
• Composition of Plagioclase
10
can be determined to within
0 < 5% An by measuring
Sections ⊥ Y extinction angles which
⊥a
10
⊥ Y X∧ (010) Bxo
reflect variations in the
optical properties due to
⊥X Bxa
20
⊥ Z X∧ (001)

30
variations in composition.
40
X Y

50

Sections ⊥ Z
60

W-E '59, Revised '78, G.F., Brock Univ. 1995

Ab 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 An
Mol. % An
Brock UniversityAlbite Oligoclase Andesine Labradorite Bytownite Anorthite ERSC 2P22 – Brock University
©2001 Greg
G.C.Finn
Finn