Lab02.doc.docVIP

Optical Properties of minerals and petrographic techniques Goals for this lab: Learn the simplest observations/tests for mineral identification in thin section: cleavage, habit, color/pleochroism, birefringence, relief. (Note that other techniques, such as elongation, and extinction angle, will be covered later during relevant mineral topics) Learn the relationship between birefringence, thickness, and interference color. Learn to efficiently make these observations. Learn how to use a petrographic microscope. Become familiar with the most common minerals/mineral groups in thin section: quartz, feldspar, calcite, micas, amphiboles, pyroxenes. Lab lecture topics Microscope etiquette. Parts of the microscope. How to focus at high power. What the accessory plate is used for. What you are not learning (conoscopic techniques). How this lab will run. Lab groups: You will be sharing microscopes, and can work together, but should turn in individual work on this lab. Instructions for this exercise You should feel free to skip around somewhat, in order to complete the lab in a timely manner. I’ve put a microscope cabinet key and on reserve for you with Vicki (in ES 240) so you can have microscope access outside class time. Be sure that all microscopes are locked when you are finished with them. Introduction The optical properties of minerals can be extremely valuable not only for mineral identification, but for understanding rock history. For example, optical techniques can be useful in deciding at what temperature a rock has been deformed. Due to time constraints, we will not be able to provide a theoretical framework for optical petrography – we will be treating these techniques as a “black box”. In Geology 407, you will begin with the interaction of electromagnetic waves with crystal structures, and work your way up from there to achieve a detailed understanding of why these recipes work. You should refer frequently to your textbook while working on this lab. Microsco