JEO 242E - Optical Mineralogy

Course Objectives

Main objective of this course is to describe and recognize rock-forming transparent minerals on thin sections using a polarized microscope.

Course Description

Light entering a transparent crystal may be absorbed, refracted, or reflected.
Optical mineralogy involves description and classification of transparent minerals by studying their optical properties using a special microscope called polarized or petrographic microscope.
Today, most optical mineralogy involves examining the minerals on thin sections with a petrographic microscope.