Zoisite (Epidote Group) Ca2Al3(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH)
Orthorhombic, Biaxial (+), RI= 1.685-1.725
Pleochroism: Colourless, occasionally gray to gray-green
prismatic, {100} cleavage
High relief, low birefringence and parallel extinction
Interference colour: blue or greenish yellow
Similar to clinozoisite which has inclined extinction.
Common in medium grade carbonate bearing metamorphic rocks, may also be
found as accessory in mafic or ultramafic igneous rocks and hydrothermal
alteration of plagioclase.
Saussuritization product of calcic-plagioclase
Altered products may be zoisite, chlorite, amphibole, and carbonates.
More calcium-rich portions of plagioclase in acidic rocks also are often
saussuritized.
Aegirine NaFe3+Si2O6 (complete solid solution with augite)
Monoclinic Biaxial negative
Form: stubby to elongate prisms. sometimes fibrous
Pleochroism: Pale green, yellowish green or dark green. distinctly pleochroic,
emerald green, dark green to grass green.
Cleavage: Two good Prismatic cleavage at about 87
Extinction: 0 to 10
RI: Increases with Fe3+
Interference colour: Second order to lower third order
Titanite CaTiOSiO4
Monoclinic Biaxial positive
Form: Euhedral to subhedral, wedge or diamond shaped.
Pleochroism: Shades of brown. non- to weakly pleochroic
Extinction: symmetrical extinction for diamond shaped crystals
RI: neither birefringence nor indices of refraction appear to vary
Interference colour: Second order to lower third order
Hornblende
(Na,K)0-1Ca2(Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+,Al)5(Si,Al)8O22(OH)2
Monoclinic
Form: slender prismatic to bladed crystals with diamond shaped cross section.
Pleochroism: Shades of green, yellow green, blue green and brown,
pleochroic
Cleavage: typical amphibole cleavage of 56 and 124
Twinning: uncommon simple and lamellar twins on {100}
Extinction: Basal section shows symmetrical extinction. Sections parallel to
(010) has extinction angle of 12 to 34
RI: increases with iron content.
Interference colour: Upper first or lower second order and often masked by
mineral colour.
Riebeckite Na2Fe32+Fe23+Si8O22(OH)2 Monoclinic
(Ambhibole Group, Glaucophane(Na-Mg-Al)-Riebeckite (Na-Fe-Fe) Series
having continuous solid solution series)
RI: 1.59-1.70
Form: slender bladed or prismatic crystal. cross section shows typical
diamond shape of amphibole
Pleochroism: dark blue to indigo to lavender blue and strongly pleochroic
Cleavage: Typical amphibole cleavage
Extinction: Show symmetrical extinction in basal section and inclined in
(010) section (usually <10, max up to 22)
RI: Increases with increase in Fe2+. 1.69-1.70.
Interference colour: second order blue to brown
Zircon ZrSiO4
Tetragonal Uniaxial positive
Relief: Very high
Form: Euhedral to subhedral with pyramidal terminations
Pleochroism: Colourless to pale brown
Extinction: parallel and length slow
Interference colour: Higher order colours up to third order.
Apatite Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl) Biotite: K2(Mg,Fe)6Al2Si6O20(OH,F)
Hexagonal Uniaxial negative Monoclinic Biaxial negative.
Relief: moderate to high Form: Tabular and micaceous
Form: small euhedral to subhedral elongate prismatic crystals with hexagonal Pleochroism: Brown, brownish green, and distinctly pleochroic. Pleochroic
cross sections halos around radi0oactive minerals such as zircon, allanite and titanite.
Pleochroism: Colourless Cleavage: Perfect cleavage on {001}
Extinction: Parallel extinction, length fast Extinction: parallel or close to parallel (rarely going up to 9)
RI: 1.6 RI: Increases with iron content. Birefringence strong
Interference colour: grey with slight blue cast on it Interference colour: maximum up to third order

Olivine: MgFeSiO4 Fluorite: CaF2 Isometric

Orthorhombic Relief: Moderately high (RI<cement)
Relief: high Form: Cubes, anhedral grains
Form: Subequant, anhedral to euhedral Pleochroism: Colourless, non pleochroic. Violet spots
Pleochroism: Colourless to pale yellow. Darker colours corresponds to higher Cleavage: Perfect cleavage on {111}
iron content. Twinning: Penetration twins
Extinction: Parallel RI: 1.434
RI: Variable between forsterite to fayalite Also seen in section: Zircon, biotite and sericitised plagioclase
Interference colour: Very strong
Alteration: alters to Iddingsite and serpentine

Chlorite: (Mg,Al,Fe)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2.(Mg,Al,Fe)3(OH)6 Epidote: Ca2Fe+3Al2O(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH) (forms solid solution

Monoclinic and Triclinic, Biaxial positive or negative
Relief: Moderate to Moderately High
Form: Plates or scales similar to mica.
Cleavage: Perfect {001} that controls fragment orientation
Pleochroism: Pleochroic. light to medium green. Shades of colourless, pale
green, yellowish green or brownish green. Grains darker when cleavage trace
is parallel to vibration direction of the lower polarizer
Extinction: Not more than few degrees and rarely more than 9
RI: Increases with Fe, Mn and Cr content. Birefringence usually low.
Interference colour: Anomalous brown, bluish or purplish (in optically
negative variety), brownish (in optically positive positive variety)
with Clinozoisite (Ca2Al3O(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH) Biaxial positive)
Monoclinic, Biaxial negative
Relief: High
Form: Anhedral, granular, columnar or bladed
Cleavage: Perfect basal cleavage {001}
Pleochroism: Light yellow-green to colourless
Extinction: Inclined between 25 to 40
RI: RI and birefringence increases with iron content.
Interference colour: Upper first to third order colours. anomalous blue to
green
Allanite: (Ca,Ce,La)2(Fe2+,Fe3+Al)3O(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH)
Monoclinic, Biaxial positive or negative
Relief: High (strongly metamict varieties may be low)
Form: Euhedral to subhedral columnar, bladed and elongate parallel to b axis.
Hexagonal shaped for section parallel to (010)
Pleochroism: Shades of brown, red-brown, yellow-brown. Pleochroism in all
varieties but metamict varieties is distinct.
Extinction: Elongate sections show parallel extinction. Section cut parallel to
(010) has (001) cleavage that shows inclined extinction (26 to 72)
RI: RI and birefringence increases with Fe, Ce and REE content.
Interference colour: Upper first to second order colours.
Chloritoid: (Fe2+Mg,Mn)2(Al,Fe3+)Al3O2
(SiO4)2(OH)4
Monoclinic (also triclinic) Biaxial (+ or -)
Relief: High
Form: Platy parallel to (001), roughly hexagonal basal section, rectangular,
may be foliated. Contains inclusions of associated minerals
Pleochroism: green and pleochroic with green or grey green, blue grey, indigo
or blue-green to pale green
Cleavage: Perfect parallel to {001}
Twinning: Simple and lamellae twins on {001}
Extinction: 0 to 18 to the trace of cleavage and length fast
RI: Substitution of Fe3+ for Al3+ increases the RI. Birefringence 0.010 to 0.012
Interference colour: Pale first order yellow. Some show second order

Kyanite: Al2SiO5 Tourmaline: Na(Mg,Fe,Al)3Al6Si6O18(BO3)3(OH,F)4

Triclinic Biaxial negative Hexagonal Uniaxial negative
Relief: High Relief: Moderate to High
Form: elongate bladed or columnar Form: Euhedral, stubby columnar to acicular, shows rounded triangular or
Pleochroism: Colourless and may show patchy light blue sometime. crudely hexagonal cross section. Longitudinal sections are roughly rectangular
Pleochroism weak from colourless, light violet blue to light cobalt blue Pleochroism: Strongly pleochroic. Elongate crystals are darkest when the long
Cleavage: Perfect {100}, {010} dimension is aligned perpendicular to the vibration direction of the lower
Extinction: inclined up to 30 on (100) section. Basal section has extinction polarizer.
angle <3 and sections parallel to (010) has around 7. Length slow Extinction: Parallel extinction and length fast
RI: Low Birefringence (0.012 to 0.016) RI: Increases with Fe content
Interference colour: First order Interference colour: higher second order and often masked by mineral colour

Sillimanite: Al2SiO5 Andalusite: Al2SiO5

Orthorhombic Biaxial positive Orthorhombic Biaxial negative
Relief: High Relief: Moderately high
Form: slender prismatic or fine fibrous. cross sections are more or less Form: elongate prism, near square cross section. chiastolite contains dark
diamond shaped inclusions that form a cross along the diagonals of the prism. Anhedral or
Cleavage: good {010} highly irregular masses.
Pleochroism: Colourless Cleavage: two good prismatic (110) cleavage
Extinction: Parallel length slow Pleochroism: Colourless
RI: Narrow range Extinction: basal section symmetrical
Interference colour: Second order Interference colour: First order grey and white
Augite (Clinopyroxene): (Ca,Mg,Fe,Al)2(Si,Al)2O6
Monoclinic Biaxial positive
Relief: High
Form: Stubby prisms elongate along c axis. longitudinal sections roughly
rectangular and show one cleavage
Cleavage: two good cleavages at approximately 87
Pleochroism: colourless, grey, pale green, pale brown or brownish green non-
pleochroic. Darker colours associated with Fe-rich content
Extinction: Basal section shows both cleavage and show symmetrical
extinction. Longitudinal section cut parallel to (100) show parallel extinction
and are length slow. Longitudinal section parallel to (010) with Inclined
extinction.
RI: Increases with Fe content
Interference colour: Lower to middle second order
Enstatite (Opx): (Mg,Fe)2Si2O6
Orthorhombic Biaxial positive or negative
Relief: Moderately high to high
Form: Euhedral crystals are stubby prisms. Longitudinal sections are roughly
rectangular
Cleavage: two good cleavage parallel to {210} prism face that intersect at 88
and 92
Exsolution: Commonly contains exsolution lamellae of augite
Pleochroism: Colourless, Pale coloured with pinkish to greenish. Fe contains
produces darker colours.
Extinction: Parallel in longitudinal section and symmetrical in basal section.
RI: Increases with Fe content
Interference colour: First order yellow or below

Staurolite: Fe2Al9Si3.75O22(OH)2 Actinolite: Ca2(Mg,Fe2+)5Si8O22(OH)2

Monoclinic Biaxial positive
Relief: High
Form: Prismatic and elongate parallel to c axis. Basal section six sided. Also
forms anhedral masses.
Pleochroism: Pale honey yellow or brown. Pleochroic from pale
yellow/colourless to golden yellow to reddish brown.
Extinction: Parallel to longitudinal sections and symmetrical to basal section.
longitudinal sections are length slow
RI: Increases with Fe content
Interference colour: First order white or yellow, sometime anomalous blue
Monoclinic Biaxial negative
Relief: Moderate to High
Form: Columnar, bladed or acicular
Cleavage: typical ambhibole cleavage that intersect at 56 and 124
Pleochroism: Colourless, pale green to deep green. Dark colour and stronger
Pleochroism are associated with higher iron content.
Extinction: Basal section shows symmetrical extinction. 11 to 28 extinction
parallel to (010) section.
RI: Varies with Fe content
Interference colour: first order to mid second order

Plagioclase: NaAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8
Triclinic Biaxial positive or negative Relief: Low
Form: Euhderal and anhedral grains. Tabular, lath shaped, elongate. cross section is more or less rectangular.
Cleavage: {001} perfect and {010} good and intersect at 93 to 94. not obvious in thin sections
Twinning: Albite (010); Pericline, Carlsbad: (010)
Pleochroism: Colourless
Extinction: Inclined
Interference colour: Increases with anorthite content. Birefringence 0.007 to 0.013. First order grey or white. Very calcic plagioclase has first order yellow
colours
Sapphirine: (Mg,Al)8(Al,Si)6O20
Monoclinic Biaxial positive or negative
Relief: High
Form: Anhedral granules or granule aggregates common; Euhedral crystals
are elongated along the c axis.
Pleochroism: Colourless to shades of blue, Pleochroism- colourless, pale
pink, pale yellow, yellowish green, greenish blue, sky blue, lavender blue,
grey blue, blue-green.
Extinction: Oblique
RI: Increases with Fe content in place of Mg
Interference colour: Grey common, anomalous indigo grey may occur
Occurrence: Is a high-temperature mineral of both regional and thermal
metamorphism. It is characteristic of granulite amphibolite facies and Mg-rich,
silica-poor rocks. Is associated with corundum, cordierite, spinel, diaspore,
sillimanite, anthophyllite, hypersthene and anorthite. Usually not associated
with quartz, olivine, enstatite.
Cummingtonite-Grunerite: (Mg,Fe)7Si8O22(OH)2
Monoclinic Biaxial positive or negative
Relief: Moderately High
Form: Usually columnar, bladed or acicular and elongate parallel to c axis.
May be arranged in parallel or radiating aggregates. Basal section shows
diamond shape of the amphiboles.
Cleavage: Good on {110} intersecting at about 56 and 124.
Pleochroism: Colourless pale green or brown, pale yellow. Darker colours
associated with higher colour content. Cummingtonite shows higher
Pleochroism than grunerite.
Extinction: Symmetrical in basal section, section cut parallel to (010) have
maximum birefringence and shows extinction at 10 to 15 (grunerite) and 15
to 21 (Cummingtonite). Sections cut parallel to (100) shows parallel
extinction. Longitudinal section close to cleavage trace is length slow.
RI: Increases with Fe content
Interference colour: Cummingtonite shows colours up to upper second order
and grunerite may be as high as mid third order.
Occurrence: Grunerite is found in metamorphosed Fe-rich sediments.
Cummingtonite is found in mafic metamorphic rocks such as amphibolite,
hornfels. Commonly found in volcanic rocks, diorite, gabbro, norite and
skarns.
Spinel Series: (i) Spinel: MgAl2O4 RI= 1.719
(ii) Hercynite: FeAl2O4 RI= 1.835
(iii) Gahnite: ZnAl2O4 RI= 1.805
(iv) Galaxite: MnAl2O4 RI= 1.920
Magnetite Series: (v) Magnetite: Fe2+Fe23+O4
(vi)Jacobsite: MnFe2O4
Chromite Series (vii) Chromite: FeCr2O4 RI= 1.9-2.12
Isometric
Relief: Very high
Form: Usually Octahedron yielding triangle, square, or diamond shaped cross
section. Anhedral grains also common.
Pleochroism: Colour corresponds with hand sample colour, opaque.
Occurrence: Spinel series common in highly aluminous or silica poor
metamorphic rocks associated with andalusite, kyanite, sillimanite, corundum,
cordierite and in regionally metamorphosed carbonate rocks.
Muscovite: KAl2(Al,Si3O10)(OH)2
Monoclinic Biaxial negative
Relief: Moderate
Form: tabular, micaceous flakes. Sericite is the name given to very fine
grained aggregates of white mica of phengite.
Cleavage: Perfect on {001}.
Pleochroism: Colourless.
Extinction: Parallel to cleavage (maximum up to 3). Pebbly surface texture
seen near extinction called bird eye extinction.
Interference colour: May be as high as third order, vivid colours of second
order common.
Occurrence: Common in wide variety of igneous, metamorphic and
sedimentary rocks.
Sodalite: Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2 (Feldspathoids) Nepheline: Na3K(Al4Si4O16) (Feldspathoids)
Isometric Hexagonal Uniaxial negative
Relief: Moderate Relief: Low
Form: Six sided cross section, anhedral in plutonic rocks. Form: Anhedral to subhedral.
Colour and Pleochroism: Colourless, gray, very pale blue. non-pleochroic Cleavage: Fair cleavage parallel to {100} which are usually not seen in thin
Extinction: Isotropic. section.
Occurrence: Found in silica deficient alkali igneous rocks. Sodalite is found Colour and Pleochroism: Colourless.
both in volcanic and plutonic rocks. Found in nepheline syenite and related Extinction: Longitudinal sections through euhedral crystals are length fast.
rocks. Parallel extinction.
Occurrence: Common mineral in syenite, nepheline syenite, phonolite,
foidites and related alkali igneous rocks. Rarely associated with quartz which
is usually secondary.
It resembles feldspar but is Uniaxial (-ve) and lack good cleavage and has low
birefringence.