The chemical formula of mineral Xenotime is indicated by YPO4 or Yttrium Phosphate. Xenotime is actually a Phosphate mineral. It is a known source of Yttrium and it is also most commonly used as mineral specimen. Xenotime is only one of the few minerals that starts with the letter X. Xenotime is a widely spread […]

The chemical formula of mineral Wurtzite usually include (Zn, Fe)S or Zinc Iron Sulfide. Wurtzite is actually a Sulfide mineral. It is also considered as a minor ore of zinc and it is also most commonly used as mineral specimen. Mineral Wurtzite is actually polymorphous with Sphalerite. They actually share the chemistry with a third, […]

The chemical formula of mineral Wollastonite is indicated by CaSiO3 or Calcium Silicate. Wollastonite is actually a Silicate mineral. It is most commonly used in ceramics, as paint filler and it is also most commonly used as mineral specimen. Wollastonite is usually found showing fascinating microscope appearance when viewed with the aid of polarized microscopes […]

The chemical formula of mineral Witherite is indicated by BaCO3 or Barium Carbonate. Witherite is actually a Carbonate mineral. It is considered as a minor ore of barium and it is also most commonly used as mineral specimen. Witherite is usually found showing nice and interesting microscope images when viewed with the aid of petrographic […]

The chemical formula of mineral Willemite is indicated by Zn2SiO4 or Zinc Silicate. Willemite is actually a Silicate mineral. It is considered as a minor ore of zinc and it is also used as mineral specimen. Willemite is somewhat rare zinc mineral but it was found with great abundance at Franklin New Jersey. Despite the […]

The chemical formula of mineral Weloganite is indicated by Na2(Sr, Ca)3Zr(CO3)6 – 3H2O or Hydrated Sodium Strontium Calcium Zirconium Carbonate. This mineral Weloganite is actually classified under the Carbonates Mineral Class. Weloganite is only most commonly used as mineral specimen and is most often found exhibiting nice and interesting microscope images when viewed with the […]

It has been studied in optical mineralogy that the Interference Colors are normally divided into orders such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on. This actually corresponds to the amount by which the two rays of light are out of phase. The chosen conventional standard is the wavelength of 560 nm. With careful observations made, […]

In optical mineralogy, the standard modern thin section is close to 0.03 mm in thickness. It is then easy for the student to confirm this provided a mineral of known birefringence has already been identified in the section with the aid of polarizing microscope for mineralogists. Quartz is ideal for the purpose since it is […]

In the field of optical mineralogy, birefringence is defined as the maximum possible difference in refractive indices of a mineral. The determination of birefringence or partial birefringence of a mineral section can be done by observing interference colors in crossed-polarized light of petrographic polarizing microscope used in optical mineralogy. The microscope set up should have […]

It has been observed in the field of optical mineralogy that the several grains of a mineral in a thin section will normally be cut parallel to different crystallographic directions, and hence intersects the indicatrix in different orientations. The interference color as observed with the aid of polarizing microscope for mineralogists will vary from black […]