LECTURE OUTLINE

The following is a list of lecture topics to be considered in this course.

Blue hyperlinks go directly to web lectures notes.

Green hyperlinks go directly to lecture PDF files.

Objectives

Properties of Light

• Introduction
• Electromagnetic Radiation
• Wave Front, Wave Normal
• Phase and Interference
• Reflection and Refraction
• Polarization of Light

Refractometry

• Relief
• Becke Line

• Defined
• Lens Effect
• Internal Reflection
• Becke Line Movement

Isotropic Materials

• Optics
• Indicatrix
• Isotropic vs. Anisotropic

Anisotropic Minerals

• Introduction
• Packing
• Interference Phenomena

• Retardation
• Interference at the Upper Polar
• Monochromatic Light
• Polychromatic Light

Optical Properties

• Extinction
• Accessory Plates
• Vibration Directions in Minerals
• Sign of Elongation
• Relief and Pleochroism

Uniaxial Minerals

Two Lecture PDF Files to Download and Print

Uniaxial Optics I and II

Uniaxial Interference Figures

• Uniaxial Optics
• Uniaxial Optic Sign
• Paths Followed by Light
• Uniaxial Indicatrix
• Birefringence and Interference Colours
• Extinction in Uniaxial Minerals
• Pleochroism in Uniaxial Minerals
• Interference figures

• How to obtain an Interference Figure
• Optic Axis Figure

• Interference Figure
• Formation of the Isochromes
• Formation of the Isogyres
• Optic Sign Determination

• Off-Centred Optic Axis Figure
• Uniaxial Flash Figure

• Summary of Uniaxial Interference Figures

Uniaxial Minerals - Optical Properties, Descriptions and Pictures

Optical Properties
Apatite	Calcite	Nepheline
Quartz	Tourmaline	Zircon

Biaxial Minerals

Several Lecture PDF Files to Download and Print

Biaxial Optics I

Biaxial Interference Figures

Biaxial Optic Sign

Biaxial Minerals - Other Properties

• Biaxial Optics
• Biaxial Indicatrix
• Optic Sign
• Crystallographic Orientation and the Indicatrix
• Biaxial Inteference Figures

• Acute Bisectrix Figure (Bxa)

• Formation of the Isochromes
• Vibration Directions and Formation of the Isogyres
• Rotation of the Isogyre

• Centred Optic Axis Figure
• Obtuse Bisectrix Figure (Bxo)
• Optic Normal or Biaxial Flash Figure
• Off Centred Figures

• Optic sign determination

• Acute Bisectrix Figure
• Obtuse Bisectrix Figure
• Optic Axis Figure
• Optic Normal

• Identifying Grains Which Will Produce Usable Interference Figures
• Other Properties of Biaxial Minerals

Biaxial Minerals – Web Pages

Optical Properties
Olivine	Orthopyroxene	Clinopyroxene
Hornblende	Tremolite - Actinolite	Plagioclase
Biotite	Muscovite	Chlorite
Microcline	Orthoclase	Sanidine

Biaxial Minerals –Lecture PDF Files

Optical Properties
Olivine	Orthopyroxene	Clinopyroxene
Hornblende	Tremolite - Actinolite	Plagioclase
Biotite	Muscovite	Chlorite
Microcline	Orthoclase	Sanidine

Other Minerals

Known Minerals - How to Describe Them?

Unknown Minerals - What To Do!

PDF Files to download:

Known Minerals - How to Describe Them?

Unknown Minerals - What To Do!

(NOTE: The background image is a block diagram of hornblende showing the relationship between the crystallographic axes, the indicatrix axes and the optic plane)

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