Petrology (EASC3402)

Assignments of Lab 1 (March 29, 2021):

Student Name:
Student ID:

1. Index metamorphic minerals in hand specimens

Write out two or three major features of garnet, staurolite, andalusite, kyanite,
sillimanite, and orthopyroxene in one of the following samples (Note: do not fill in a
wrong space).

Garnet Staurolite Andalusite Kyanite Sillimanite

MR95
DM99
M18A/B/C
TC32/31

AU-1
MR98/99
MR166
GM111

Al-201b/c
WM/L-17
C58
C57
A1-201B
BJ-1
BJ-1-1
M21

E
 Petrology (EASC3402)

2. Index metamorphic minerals in thin sections

Describe the following features of garnet, staurolite, kyanite, and sillimanite in thin
sections M-9, M-9, M-8, and M-11, respectively.

Garnet Staurolite Kyanite Sillimanite

(M-9) (M-9) (M-8) (M-11)

Crystal shape
(granular or
prismatic)

Color in plane
polarized light
(c.f.
Pleochroism)

Color under
cross
polarized light
(interference
color)

Cleavage

Extinction

Field of view diameter (Microscope):

10 (eyepiece) x 4 (objective): 5 mm ; 10 (eyepiece) x 10 (objective): 2 mm.
 Petrology (EASC3402)

LAB 1
Distinguishing Features of Index Metamorphic Minerals in Hand
Specimen and Thin Section

Major index metamorphic minerals in this practice are garnet, staurolite, andalusite,
kyanite, sillimanite and cordierite

1. Garnet ((Fe, Mg, Ca, Mn)3Al2Si3O12, cubic)

Garnet can occur in nearly all types of metamorphic rocks.
In hand specimen, garnet is characterized by red or brown color, granular,
rhombic dodecahedral crystal shape, lack of cleavage, and vitreous (glassy) luster.
In thin section, garnet is characterized by high relief, isotropy (complete
extinction under crossed polarized light) and granular form without cleavages (but
often with fractures), which make it distinguishable from other isotropic minerals.

2. Staurolite ((Fe,Mg)2Al9[Si4O22(OH)2, Monoclinic (+))

Staurolite commonly occurs as large porphyroblasts in medium-grade pelitic
schists, with kyanite, garnet, muscovite and biotite.
In hand specimen, staurolite is characterized by its cross shaped twins, Brownish
yellow or Brownish black color and poor cleavage {010}.
In thin section, staurolite is characterized by golden yellow to colorless
paleochroism, porphyroblastic habit, poor cleavage, poikiloblastic (inclusion-rich)
texture, low birefringence (<1st order yellow) and length-slow prismatic crystals
parallel extinction. These features make it easily distinguished from other minerals
having yellow color in thin section.
Note: don’t mix staurolite with tourmaline that is uniaxial (-) and length fast.

3. Andalusite (Al2SiO5, orthorhombic, (-))

Andalusite occurs as porphyroblasts in low-to medium-grade pelitic schists or
hornfels (contact metamorphism), commonly associated with cordierite
In hand specimen, andalusite is characterized by pink/rose-red euhedral prismatic
crystals with almost square cross-section and good {110} cleavage.
In thin section, andalusite is characterized by nearly square cross-section,
moderate relief, low-birefringence (1st order grey), and length-fast prismatic crystals
with parallel extinction. In some cases, an andalusite contains carbonaceous
inclusions that are symmetrically arranged along the diagonals of the square cross
sections; such an andalusite is called chiastolite.
 Petrology (EASC3402)

4. Kyanite (Al2SiO5, triclinic, (+))

Kyanite occurs as porphyroblasts in medium- to high pressure pelitic schists or
gneisses, with quartz, muscovite, biotite, garnet, staurolite, and sillimanite.
In hand specimen, kyanite is characterized by blue/white blocky/columnar crystals,
varied hardness, three sets of cleavage ({100} perfect, {010} good, {001} weak) and
step-like features caused by its good cleavage.
In thin section, kyanite is characterized by high relief, three sets of cleavage ({100}
perfect, {010} food and {001} weak), weak birefringence (1st yellow), and
length-slow blocky grains with inclined to parallel extinction (the maximum angle of
30°).

5. Sillimanite (Al2SiO5, orthorhombic, (+))

Sillimanite occurs in medium- to high-grade metamorphic rocks, associated with
andalusite/kyanite, cordierite, garnet, corundum, mica, feldspar and quartz in pelitic
schists or gneisses.
In hand specimen, sillimanite is characterized by white, prismatic, needlelike or
hairlike (fibrous) crystals.
In thin section, sillimanite is characterized by prismatic, needlelike or hairlike
crystals, {010} perfect cleavage (parallel to diagonal in cross-section), {001} fracture
(perpendicular to the elongation), positive (length-slow) elongation, and relatively
higher birefringence compared with andalusite and kyanite.

6. Cordierite ((Mg, Fe)2Al3(Si5Al)O18.nH2O; Orthorhombic, (-)(+))

Cordierite commonly occurs as poikiloblastic grains in medium- to high-grade
hornfels, pelitic schists and gneisses, associated with andalusite/sillimanite, garnet,
mica, K-feldspar, etc.
In hand specimen, cordierite is difficult to recognize, although in most cases, it is
anhedral and shows dark blue or black color.
In thin section, cordierite resembles quartz or plagioclase, but it can be
distinguished from them by abundant inclusions of fine opaque material or quartz, by
concentric twinning or star-shaped pattern, by pleochroic haloes around included
zircons and apatites, and by typical macaceous alteration products.