Systematic Mineralogy Silicates

Relative abundance of different minerals in the earths crust (Fig. 1) Crystal chemistry of different silicates Coordination numbers of the different cations (Table 1) Silicate Groups

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Tectosilicates

1) SiO2 minerals There are 9 different polymorphs of SiO2 (Table 2; Fig. 2). Transitions from one polymorph to another: reconstructive vs. displacive Tridymite: Orthorhombic, +, 2V = 35, n<b. Occurs as a secondary mineral in volcanic rocks. Cristobalite: Pseudoisometric. n < b, moderate relief. Occurs as a secondary? mineral in volcanic rocks (particularly in spherulites). Coesite: Monoclinic, +, 2V = 54, characteristic of ultrahigh pressure terranes. Stishovite: Tertragonal, forms in impact craters.

Varieties of Quartz: Chalcedony: microcrystalline and fibrous. Secondary mineral in igneous rocks; also in sedimentary rocks. Principal constituent of chert. Jasper: microcrystalline quartz with interstitial hematite. Red in color. Sedimentary environments. Agate: Banded chalcedony 2) Feldspars Compositions and the ternary system: Ab Or An (Fig. 3)

Plagioclase feldspar series: albite (0 10% An), oligoclase (10 30% An), andesine (30 50% An), labradorite (50 70% An), bytownite (70 90% An), anorthite (90 100% An). Common properties: Colorless in thin section, triclinic, weak birefringence, low relief, polysynthetic twinning, 2 directions of cleavage at 83 - 90, variable extinction angles, and 2V. Optical orientations (Fig. 4). Zoning Estimating the An content of the Plagioclase:

a) Michl Lvy method (Fig. 5): Precautions: (i) maximum extinction angles used; (ii) differences between the 2 angles < 4; (iii) all lamellae should show the same interference color; (iv) if extinction angle measured is < 18, use optic sign, 2V, or refractive indeces to tell the An%; (v) need to carry out on at least 6 grains b) Schuster method (Fig. 6): extinction angles measured against cleavage. c) Using the Carlsbad + Polysynthetic twins (Fig. 7). Will work with one measurement only; 2 extinction angles should not differ by more than 15; may need to be used in conjunction with the Michl Lvy method. d) Relief and refractive indeces (Fig. 8) e) 2V and optic sign (Fig. 9). Alkali Feldspars Ab Or solid solution: limited (Figs. 10 & 11). Perthite and antiperthite Thermal stability of the different species (Fig. 12). Common properties: Monoclinic or triclinic, colorless, low relief, n < b, 2 cleavages (83 90); weak birefringence; extinction angles are generally small; twinning is very common; 2V variable, useful for telling the different species apart; optic sign: Albite is positive, all others are negative! Optic orientations (Fig. 13). Twinning: (Fig. 14).

Orthoclase: KalSi3O8 Most common variety in igneous plutonic and metamorphic rocks. Simple twinning is common. Extinction angle: 5 12, 2V = 69 72. Microcline: KalSi3O8 Common in plutonic rocks that cooled slowly. Cross-hatched twinning (combination of albite & pericline). 2V is large (84). Extinction angle: 5 with cleavage. Anorthoclase: (K,Na)AlSi3O8 Rare, seen in Na rich igneous rocks (volcanics as well as plutonics), extinction angle: 1 10, 2V = 43 54. Sanidine: (K,Na)AlSi3O8 Common in volcanic rocks (rhyolites). Small extinction angle (5 15), very small 2V. Unlike orthoclase, crystals tend to be clear! Adularia: A variety of orthoclase that occurs in veins!

3) Feldspathoids Common properties: Isotropic to weak birefringence, low relief, usually colorless in thin section, but a few species of the sodalite group are either blue or brown. They all occur in silica deficient rocks, and therefore are never in equilibrium with quartz. Leucite: KalSi2O6 Low to moderate relief, n < b, pseudoisometric and therefore pseudoisotropic, multidirectional polysynthetic twinning is very common for coarse crystals, present in SiO2 deficient volcanic rocks only. Nepheline: NaAlSiO4 Hexagonal, uniaxial negative, low relief, n < b, lengthfast. Sodalite: 3NaAlSiO4. NaCl Isotropic, low to moderate relief, colorless. Hauyne: 3NaAlSiO4. CaSO4 Blue in thin section, isotropic, low to moderate relief. Nosean: 6NaAlSiO4. Na2SO4 Brown in thin section, isotropic, low to moderate relief. 4) Scapolite Group minerals Two end-members: Marialite (3(NaAlSi3O8).NaCl) - Meionite 3(CaAl2Si2O8).CaCO3 Tetragonal, Uniaxial negative, moderate to high relief, n > b, colorless in thin section, yellowish, grayish, or bluish in hand specimen, strong birefringence, 2 directions of cleavage (90). Indeces of refraction and birefringence increase with the increase in Meionite end-member. Common mineral in contact metamorphic aureoles, skarns, and other metamorphosed calcareous and psammitic sediments. Associated with diopside, actinolite, garnet, and calcite. 5) Analcime and the Zeolite group minerals Zeolites are hydrated aluminum silicates of alkali and alkaline earth elements. They are characterized by open structures with large tubular channels where the H2O (bonded primarily through H-bonds) and some of the cations reside (Fig. 15). Different species have different sized channels. H2O is easily driven off by heating (mostly at T < 350C). Dehydrated samples can be easily rehydrated when in contact with water. Characterized by a large exchange capacity.

Shapes and habits: either fibrous, platy, or equidimensional. General optical properties (Table 3): low indeces of refraction (n < b), very weak birefringence (or isotropic). Composition of different species and Physical properties: Table 4. Paragenesis: Low temperature environments in (a) basic volcanic rocks filling amygdules; (b) deep sea sediments, (c) products of diagenesis to burial metamorphism, (d) hydrothermal alteration of basic to intermediate tuffs (e) analcime has a higher T stability limit than zeolites, and can also occur as a primary igneous phase in subsilicic plutonic rocks (e.g. alkali syenites). Uses: (a) molecular sieves, (b) exchange columns, (c) desiccants, (d) water softeners.