An introduction to minerals and rocks under the microscope
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Contents

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Minerals and the crystalline state
    • 1.1 Introduction
    • 1.2 States of matter
    • 1.3 Physical properties of minerals in hand specimen
      • 1.3.1 Crystal shape
      • 1.3.2 Colour
      • 1.3.3 Lustre
      • 1.3.4 Cleavage
      • 1.3.5 Density
      • 1.3.6 Hardness
    • 1.4 The atomic structure of crystals
      • 1.4.1 Metallic structures and bonding
      • 1.4.2 Ionic structures and bonding
      • 1.4.3 Covalent structures and bonding
    • 1.5 Crystal defects and twinning
    • 1.6 Crystal symmetry and shape
      • 1.6.1 Crystal symmetry
      • 1.6.2 Crystal lattices and unit cells
      • 1.6.3 Crystal systems
    • 1.7 Summary of Section 1
    • 1.8 Learning outcomes for Section 1
  • 2 Minerals and the microscope
    • 2.1 The nature of light
      • 2.1.1 Colour
      • 2.1.2 Refraction
    • 2.2 Minerals and polarised light
      • 2.2.1 Isotropic and anisotropic materials
      • 2.2.2 Double refraction
      • 2.2.3 Pleochroism
      • 2.2.4 Extinction positions
      • 2.2.5 Interference colours
    • 2.3 Minerals and the polarising microscope
      • 2.3.1 Introduction to the polarising microscope
      • 2.3.2 Minerals in thin section
    • 2.4 Summary of Section 2
    • 2.5 Learning outcomes for Section 2
  • 3 Rock-forming minerals
    • 3.1 Introduction
    • 3.2 Silicate mineral structures
    • 3.3 Minerals with isolated SiO4 tetrahedra
      • 3.3.1 Olivine
      • 3.3.2 Garnet
    • 3.4 Chain silicates
      • 3.4.1 Pyroxene
      • 3.4.2 Amphibole
    • 3.5 Sheet silicate minerals
      • 3.5.1 The mica group
      • 3.5.2 Clay minerals
      • 3.5.3 Other sheet silicates
    • 3.6 Framework silicates
      • 3.6.1 Silica minerals
      • 3.6.2 Feldspars
    • 3.7 Non-silicate minerals
      • 3.7.1 Carbonates
      • 3.7.2 Oxides
      • 3.7.3 Sulfides
    • 3.8 Summary of Section 3
    • 3.9 Learning outcomes for Section 3
  • Conclusion
  • Keep on learning
  • Acknowledgements

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