Category Archives: Earth Science

Also known as Geology, Geosciences, etc. It is a science that deal with Geologic materials and processes which made them. A multidisciplinary field in which also includes Geophysics, Hydrology, Structure and Civil Engineering and many more.

Earth Science

Right Hand Rule in Geology

In Structural Geology, the orientations of geological features are extremely important. Field Geologists record strike and dip of structural features. These data later can be used for analysis and interpretation. The right hand rule is an arbitrary standardization used by some Geologists. It is not a universal rule; hence the term “right hand rule” is a misnomer. Continue reading Right Hand Rule in Geology →

Earth Science

Photomicrographs of Minerals

3 Comments

Index:   B   |   C   |   E   |   G   |   H   |   K   |   M   |   O   |   P   |   Q   |   S   |   T   |   Z   |   Footnotes

A

Actinolite


min_actinolite_xpl_AC-1_2min_actinolite_xpl_AC-1min_actinolite_ppl_AC-1

Notes:
–wiki

Andalusite


min_andalusite_xpl_kick-45_2min_andalusite_xpl_kick-45min_andalusite_ppl_kick-45

Notes:
–wiki

Apatite (A)

Notes:
–wiki

B

Biotite


min_biotite_xpl_100_2min_biotite_xpl_100min_biotite_xpl_93-MN-1min_biotite_ppl_100_2min_biotite_ppl_100min_biotite_ppl_93-MN-1min_biotite_ppl_001min_biotite_ppl_245Amin_biotite_ppl_245A_2min_biotite_xpl_245Amin_biotite_xpl_245A_2min_biotite_xpl_245A_3

Notes:
–wiki

C

Calcite/Dolomite


min_calcite_xpl_JD-202_2min_calcite_xpl_JD-202min_calcite_ppl_JD-202

Notes:
–wiki-Calcite
–wiki-Dolomite

Chert


min_chert_ppl_JH-1min_chert_xpl_JH-1

Notes:
–wiki

Chlorite


min_chlorite_xpl_313Cl_2min_chlorite_xpl_313Clmin_chlorite_ppl_313Cl

Notes:
–wiki

Clinopyroxene


min_clinopyroxene_ppl_TCP-1min_clinopyroxene_xpl_TCP-1min_clinopyroxene_xpl_TCP-1_2min_clinopyroxene_xpl_TCP-1_3

Notes:
–wiki

Cordierite


min_cordierite_ppl_BB56min_cordierite_xpl_BB-65min_cordierite_xpl_BB-65_2

Notes:
–wiki

Cummingtonite

-info here

E

Epidote


min_epidote_xpl_94-WP-123_2min_epidote_xpl_94-WP-123min_epidote_ppl_94-WP-123

Notes:
–wiki

G

Garnet


min_garnet_xpl_33min_garnet_ppl_33

Notes:
–wiki

Glaucophane


min_glaucophane_xpl_UC-1700min_glaucophane_ppl_UC-1700

Notes:
–wiki

H

Hornblende


min_hornblende_xpl_311-2min_hornblende_xpl_311min_hornblende_ppl_311-2min_hornblende_ppl_311min_hornblende_ppl_311_3min_hornblende_ppl_311_4min_hornblende_xpl_311-3min_hornblende_xpl_311-4

Notes:
–wiki

K

K-feldspar


min_k-feldspar_ppl_286min_k-feldspar_xpl_286min_k-feldspar_xpl_286_2

Notes:
–wiki

Kyanite


min_kyanite_xpl_CK192_2min_kyanite_xpl_CK192min_kyanite_ppl_CK192

Notes:
–wiki

M

Muscovite


min_muscovite_ppl_96-SCH-1min_muscovite_ppl_96-SCH-1_2min_muscovite_xpl_96-SCH-1min_muscovite_xpl_96-SCH-1_2

Notes:
–wiki

O

Olivine


min_olivine_xpl_214_2min_olivine_xpl_214min_olivine_ppl_214

Notes:
–wiki

Orthopyroxene


min_orthopyroxene_xpl_6.4B-2min_orthopyroxene_xpl_6.4Bmin_orthopyroxene_ppl_6.4B

Notes:
–wiki

P

Plagioclase Feldspar


min_plagioclase_xpl_UC9579min_plagioclase_xpl_MTX-11min_plagioclase_ppl_UC9579

Notes:
–wiki

Q

Quartz


min_quartz_ppl_RImin_quartz_ppl_RI_2

Birefringence: +0.009

Notes:
–wiki

S

Sillimanite


min_sillimanite_ppl_9D14min_sillimanite_xpl_9D14min_sillimanite_xpl_9D14_2min_sillimanite_xpl_9D14_3

Birefringence: 0.016 – 0.023

Notes:
–wiki

Staurolite


min_staurolite_ppl_247min_staurolite_ppl_247_2min_staurolite_xpl_247min_staurolite_xpl_247_2min_staurolite_ppl_93NCW10min_staurolite_xpl_93NCW10min_staurolite_xpl_93NCW10_2

Notes:
–wiki

T

Tremolite


min_tremolite_ppl_MTX-2min_tremolite_xpl_MTX-2min_tremolite_xpl_MTX-2_2min_tremolite_xpl_MTX-2_3min_tremolite_xpl_MTX-2_4min_tremolite_ppl_265Bmin_tremolite_xpl_265Bmin_tremolite_xpl_265B_2min_tremolite_ppl_MTX-2_2min_tremolite_xpl_MTX-2_5min_tremolite_xpl_MTX-2_6min_tremolite_xpl_MTX-2_7min_tremolite_ppl_97-UK3min_tremolite_xpl_97-UK3

Notes:
–wiki

Titanite/Sphene (A)



min_titanite_ppl_9590min_titanite_xpl_9590min_titanite_xpl_9590_2min_titanite_xpl_9590_3

Notes:
–wiki

Z

Zircon (A)

Notes:
–wiki

Footnotes

A – denotes accessory minerals. Colours under the microscope should be noted both under PPL and XPL.

Extinction angle and Interference Colours (Birofingence) is always observed under XPL. Some minerals such as dolomite verses calcite are difficult to identify without a hand sample. These images are NOT a replacement for hands on lab experience. If you find any errors, please contact me.

You may also reference Mineralogy Media Library.

Technical

Microscope: Nikon H550S
Camera: Samsung 8 MP, 3264×2448 pixels
Date(s): 29-March-2013 to 12-April-2013
Samples: Epoxy has an R.I. of 1.55 +/‐ 0.01; thin sections varies between xx-xx μm
Image Size: 1500 x 1500 pix
File Name: Mineral name, Type of polarity and Thin section number (if more than one image, the file number); For example; min_kyanite_xpl_CK192_2.jpg.

Special Thanks goes to…
Mr. W. Matthews and Ms. L. Bloom of University of Calgary.

Disclaimer

While every effort is made to ensure that the content of this website is accurate, the data is provided “as is” and is not intended to be used as a primary reference material. While the lab samples are provided by the University of Calgary, the images on this site are sole property of Sanuja Senanayake. There is no affiliation between the University and sanuja.com. The the accuracy of data is not verified by any entity.

Colour balance issues; since it was extremely hard to calibrate the digital camera to reflect the true colours and due to various other factors, the colours in these images may not be perfectly accurate. For example, the Calcite in PPL suppose to look clear.