Optical Mineralogy

In this chapter, we tie together the previous two chapters by interweaving them with optics, resulting in two related disciplines: optical crystallography and optical crystal chemistry.

Topics covered in Chapter 5 include:

Macroscopic View of Polarized Light and Minerals
Making a Thin Section
Meet Your Microscope
Wave Theory of LIght
Optical Classes and Refractive Index
Reflection vs. Refraction: Snell's Law
Wavelength and Refractive Index
Visual Representations of Refractive Index
Birefringence and Retardation
Interference Figures