Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 66 views

    Muscovite in Schist

    Uploaded by

    vasokosm
    This document describes the optical properties of muscovite when viewed under a microscope in thin section. It notes that muscovite has a sheet structure, is colorless, has a single cleavage, moderate relief and high order interference colors. It can be distinguished from biotite which is strongly colored. When aligned in schist, muscovite grains will go into extinction at similar positions when the stage is rotated. Folded muscovite fabrics show wavy extinction. Muscovite has higher relief and interference colors than associated quartz and may be thinner in low grade rocks.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Muscovite in Schist

    Uploaded by

    vasokosm
    66 views4 pages
    This document describes the optical properties of muscovite when viewed under a microscope in thin section. It notes that muscovite has a sheet structure, is colorless, has a single cleavage, moderate relief and high order interference colors. It can be distinguished from biotite which is strongly colored. When aligned in schist, muscovite grains will go into extinction at similar positions when the stage is rotated. Folded muscovite fabrics show wavy extinction. Muscovite has higher relief and interference colors than associated quartz and may be thinner in low grade rocks.

    Original Description:

    w eb2.ges.gla.ac.uk /~minerals/ I do not own anything

    Original Title

    Muscovite

    Copyright

    © Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document describes the optical properties of muscovite when viewed under a microscope in thin section. It notes that muscovite has a sheet structure, is colorless, has a single cleavage, moderate relief and high order interference colors. It can be distinguished from biotite which is strongly colored. When aligned in schist, muscovite grains will go into extinction at similar positions when the stage is rotated. Folded muscovite fabrics show wavy extinction. Muscovite has higher relief and interference colors than associated quartz and may be thinner in low grade rocks.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    66 views4 pages

    Muscovite in Schist

    Uploaded by

    vasokosm
    This document describes the optical properties of muscovite when viewed under a microscope in thin section. It notes that muscovite has a sheet structure, is colorless, has a single cleavage, moderate relief and high order interference colors. It can be distinguished from biotite which is strongly colored. When aligned in schist, muscovite grains will go into extinction at similar positions when the stage is rotated. Folded muscovite fabrics show wavy extinction. Muscovite has higher relief and interference colors than associated quartz and may be thinner in low grade rocks.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    22/5/13

    Muscovite

    Return to introduction

    Muscovite
    Mineral structure: Sheet silicate Common mineral in Pelites (Slates, Schists, Gneisses), Granites Rock-forming minerals associated with Muscovite: Quartz, Biotite

    Muscovite in Schist
    Analyser out Analyser in

    Key optical features of muscovite in thin section: Colourless Single cleavage Moderate Relief High order interference colours Straight extinction Common minerals that might be confused with muscovite and occur in similar rocks: Not many! Biotite (strongly coloured), Common alteration product: None

    Muscovite shape and interference colours


    Analyser in

    web2.ges.gla.ac.uk/~minerals/Muscovite.htm

    1/4

    22/5/13

    Muscovite

    Note: Muscovite has good crystal shape forming sheets elongate parallel to the mineral cleavage. Interference colours are high order, often slightly dusty or crinkled appearance due to irregularities in the polished surface (i.e. thickness of the section)

    Aligned muscovite in schist


    Analyser out Analyser in

    Note: Most muscovite grains in extinction position Stage rotated by 45o Analyser out Analyser in

    Note: Regional metamorphism causes muscovite sheets to align in similar orientation, rotation of the microscope stage results in muscovite grains going into extinction in similar position. Also note higher relief than adjacent low order interference quartz.

    Folded muscovite-rich fabric


    Analyser out Analyser in

    web2.ges.gla.ac.uk/~minerals/Muscovite.htm

    2/4

    22/5/13

    Muscovite

    Note: Cleavage domains of muscovite and chlorite in similar orientation, Extinction is typically wavy in bent mica plates

    Muscovite in albite (plagioclase) porphyroblast schist


    Analyser out Analyser in

    Note: Anastomosing fabric defined by muscovite sheets with high order interference colours

    Muscovite in slate (fine grained) with pale green chlorite, quartz and plagioclase
    Analyser out Analyser in

    Note: Small colourless muscovite in low grade rocks is typically thinner than 30 m section and so have lower order interference colours, or colours that are higher order in the thicker centre of grains Analyser out Analyser in

    web2.ges.gla.ac.uk/~minerals/Muscovite.htm

    3/4

    22/5/13

    Muscovite

    Note: Aligned muscovite showing higher order interference colours than matrix quartz.

    Muscovite in biotite- quartz schist


    Analyser out Analyser in

    Note: Higher relief than adjacent quartz and high order interference colours Take the Muscovite test Return to top Return to introduction

    web2.ges.gla.ac.uk/~minerals/Muscovite.htm

    4/4

    You might also like