Skip to main content
Disciplines
Automotive Business IT + Informatics Construction + Real Estate Electrical Engineering + Electronics Energy + Sustainability Insurance + Risk Finance + Banking Management + Leadership Marketing + Sales Mechanical Engineering + Materials
Events
DE
EN
Books
Journals
Topic Page
Marketing
Start single access now
Access for companies
EXTENDED SEARCH
Log in
Top

1992 | Book

Introduction to the microscopic study of minerals Read chapter Read first chapter

Optical Mineralogy

Principles and Practice

Authors: C. D. Gribble, A. J. Hall

Publisher: Springer US

Included in: Professional Book Archive

Login to get access
insite
SEARCH

About this book

This book is the successor to A practical introduction to optical mineralogy, which was written in the early 1980s, and published by George Allen & Unwin in 1985. Our intention, once again, is to introduce the student of geology to the microscopic examination of minerals, by both transmitted and reflected light. These techniques should be mastered by students early in their careers, and this text has been proposed in the full awareness that it will be used as a laboratory handbook, serving as a quick reference to the properties of minerals. However, care has been taken to present a systematic explanation of the use of the microscope, as well as to include an extended explanation of the theoretical aspects of optical crystallography in transmitted light. The book is therefore intended as a serious text that introduces the study of minerals under the microscope to the intending honours student of geology, as well as providing information for the novice or interested layman.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
1. Introduction to the microscopic study of minerals
Abstract
Microscopes vary in their design, not only in their appearance but also in the positioning and operation of the various essential components. These components are present in all microscopes and are described briefly below. Although dual-purpose microscopes incorporating both transmitted- and reflected-light options are now available (Fig. 1.1), it is more convenient to describe the two techniques separately. More details on the design and nature of the components can be obtained in textbooks on microscope optics.
C. D. Gribble, A. J. Hall
2. Silicate minerals
Abstract
All silicate minerals contain silicate oxyanions [SiO4]4−. These units take the form of a tetrahedron, with four oxygen ions at the apices and a silicon ion at the centre. The classification of silicate minerals depends on the degree of polymerization of these tetrahedral units. In silicate minerals, the system of classification commonly used by mineralogists hinges upon how many oxygens in each tetrahedron are shared with other similar tetrahedra.
C. D. Gribble, A. J. Hall
3. The non-silicates
Abstract
Minerals which are not silicates have been grouped together in this chapter for the description of their properties. However, unlike the silicates, the crystal structures and chemical variation of members of the group are not easily related to mineralogical properties and the mode of occurrence. Even subdivision of the group into transparent and opaque minerals is impractical, since closely related minerals, and even compositional varieties of the same mineral, may vary in opacity. For example, sphalerite is transparent when it is pure zinc sulphide, but it becomes progressively more opaque with increasing iron substitution of zinc (see Plate 4a).
C. D. Gribble, A. J. Hall
4. Transmitted-light crystallography
Abstract
Light is an electromagnetic vibration which, for the purpose of transmitted- and reflected-light microscopy, can be considered as a transfer of energy by vibrating “particles” along a path from the source to the observer. White light consists of a continuous spectrum of rays, ranging in wavelength from 380 nm to 770 nm through the visible spectrum.
C. D. Gribble, A. J. Hall
5. Reflected-light theory
Abstract
This chapter is provided to offer readers a better understanding of the theoretical basis of observations made using reflected-light microscopy, but it is emphasized that a great deal can be gained from studying ore minerals in polished section without necessarily appreciating the finer details of the theory of the optical properties of minerals. Chapter 1 provides more than enough information to get started with a reflected-light microscope. Practice and experience are probably more important in gaining confidence in the use of reflected-light than transmitted-light microscopy. However, confidence will be gained more quickly by students who have more understanding of reflected-light theory and, hopefully, many will soon find this chapter too basic, and proceed to the references given for further reading.
C. D. Gribble, A. J. Hall
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Optical Mineralogy
Authors
C. D. Gribble
A. J. Hall
Copyright Year
1992
Publisher
Springer US
Electronic ISBN
978-1-4615-9692-9
Print ISBN
978-1-4615-9694-3
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9692-9