Tanta University
Faculty of Science
Department of Geology
Ore Microscopy
Submitted by
Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmed El-
Ore Microscopy
Physical
Properties
Crystal form
morphology
Crystal habit
Cleavage
Parting
Inclusions
Twining
Optical Properties
without Analyzer
Colour
Reflactivity
Bireflectance &
Reflection pleochriosm
with Analyzer
Isotropism &
Anisotropism
Internal Reflection
Physical Properties
Crystal form morphology
Crystal habit
Cleavage
Parting
Inclusions
Twining
Crystal form
Euhedral
Subhedra
l
Anhedral
Crystal habit
Equant
Prismatic
Fiberous (e.g)
Pyrolusite
Bladed (e.g)
Hematite
Oval
Rhombic (e.g)
Arsenopyrite
Rounded
Colloform (e.g)
Geothite
Triangular (e.g)
Cleavage
Presnt
Present
Absent
set 1
Covellite
sets 2
Chalcopyrite
sets 3
Galena
Cleavage VS Scratches
Cleavage
Scratches
Parting
Present internal Reflection
marcasite
Absent
Inclusions
Present
Absent
Twining
Lameller (e.g) molybdenite
Optical Properties
without Analyzer
Colour
Reflactivity
Bireflectance &
Reflection
pleochriosm
with Analyzer
Isotropism &
Anisotropism
Internal Reflection
Optical Properties without
Analyzer
Colour : white, red, blue, brown, yellow
Faint yellow or pale yellow
Dark or strong red
Reddish brown
Pyrite cremic
white
Chalcopyrite
brase
Covellite ink
blue
Marcas
ite
yello
Pentlandite
golden yellow
Galen
a
Optical Properties without
Analyzer
Reflactivity
R= intensity of reflected
light/intensity of incident light
Described as *low ex covellite
*medium ex
chalcopyrite
*High ex pyrite
Optical Properties without
Analyzer
Bireflectance & Reflection
pleochriosm
Bireflectance:
Ex: Chalcopyrite brase yellow to
faint yellow
Reflection pleochriosm
Optical Properties with Analyzer
Isotropism & Anisotropism
Described as: *Isotropic cubic
*Anisotropic (e.g) Marcasite, Stibnite
(Very strong Strong Moderate - Low
Very low)
Marcas
ite
Stibnit
e
Optical Properties with Analyzer
Internal Reflection
Present
Absent
Marcas
ite
Ore Microscopy
Ore
Minerals
Sulphide
Minerals
Oxides
Minerals
Arsenopyr
ite
Pyrite
Chalcopyr
ite
Tetrahed
rite
Sphalerit
e
Sulphi
de
Miner
als
Pyrrhotite
Pentlan
dite
Galena
Stibn
ite
Niccolit
e
Covellite
Bornite
Molybdenit
e
Marcasit
e
Pyrite
FeS2
Cubic
Cremic white
Reflactivity: High
Isotropic
Chalcopyrite brase yellow
yrite cremic white
Sphalerite gray
Chalcopy
rite
CuFeS2
Sphalerite gray
Brase yellow
Tertagonal
Reflacivity: Medium
Anisotropic
Chalcopyrite brase yellow
Two sets of Clevage
Bireflectance: Presnt
halcopyrite brase yellow
Pyrite cremic white
Sphalerite gray
Sphalerit
e
(Zn,Fe) S
Cubic
Grey
Reflactivity: low
Isotropic
Two sets of clevage
Galena
PbS
Cubic
White
Reflactivity: high
Isotropic
Three sets of
clevage
Habitat: Triangular
Gangepit
minera
ls
Stibnite
Sb2S3
Orthrohombic
White
Reflactivity :high
Very strong
anisotropic
Three sets of
clevage
Twining may be
presnt
Covellite
CuS
Hexagonal
Ink Blue
Reflactivity: low
Anisotropic
Bireflectance may
be present
Marcasit
e
FeS2
Orthrohombic
Yellow Pale
yellow
Reflactivity: high
Internal Reflection
Very strong
anisotropic
Molybdeni
te
MoS2
Trigonal
Grewish white
Reflactivity: high
Paleochrism
Very strong anisotropic
Lameler twining
H-shape
Bornite
Cu5FeS4
Brown-Purple-PinkViolet
Revlictivity: low
Tetragonal
Anisotropic
Niccolite
NiAs
Hexagonal
Yellowish brown
Reflactivity:
medium
Anisotropic
pink
Pentlandi
te
(Fe,Ni)S8
Cubic
Isotropic
Golden yellow
Reflactivity:
medium
Two sets of clevage
Pyrrhotite
Fe x-1S x
Hexagonal
Faint brown
Reflactivity: high
Anisotropic
Tetrahedri
te
Cu12Sb4S13
Cubic
Olive green-grey
Reflactivity: low
Isotropic
Arsenopyr
ite
FeAsS
Monoclinic
Cremic white
Reflactivity: high
Anisotropic
Rhombic shape
crystal habit
Magnet
ite
Pyrolus
ite
Hemati
te
Oxides
Miner
als
Ilmenit
e
Geothit
e
Chromi
te
Magnetite
Fe3O4
Cubic
Isotropic
Pale faint brown
Reflactivity: medium
Crystal habit: equent
Crystal form: euhedral
Two sets of clevage
BIF (Banded Iron
Formation)
Hematite
white
Magnetite
Martization
Hematite
Fe2O3
Trigonal
Anisotropic
White
Reflactivity: high
Crystal habit: Bladed
Internal Reflaction
reddish brown
BIF (Banded Iron
Formation)
Geothite
Fe2O3.H2O
Orthrohombic
Grey
Well crystalline
Poor crystalline
Crystal habit:
colloform
Chromite
FeCr2O4
Cubic
Isotropic
White with brown
tint
Reflactivity: high
Internal Reflection:
brown or reddish
brown
Deformation
texture
Chromite
Ilmenite
FeTiO3
Trigonal
Light "faint Gray
Reflactivity: high
Hematite-Ilmenite
exsolution tex
Light
gray
Ilmenit
e
White
Hematit
e
Pyrolusite
MnO2
Tetragonal
Faint Brown
Reflactivity:
medium
Crystal Habit:
Fiberous
Texture
Colloform texture
(e.g) Geothite
Deformation texture
(e.g) Chromite
Banded Iron Formation
texture
(e.g) Magnetite,
Hematite
Flame texture
(e.g) Pentlandite ,
Pyrrhotite
Oolitic Texture
Hematite-Ilmenite Exsolution
texture
Ilmenit
e
FeTiO3
Trigonal
Light "faint Gray
Reflactivity: high
HematiteIlmenite
exsolution tex
Light
gray
Ilmenit
e
White
Hematit
e
Ilmenite-magnetite
exsolution texture
Trellis texture
Chalcopyrite-Sphalerite exsolution texture
& Emulsion texture
ChalcopyriteSphalerite
exsolution
texture
Emulsion texture
Chalcopyrite-Sphalerite exsolution texture
& Emulsion texture
Best
Regards
Mohamed M Elshora
President of AAPG-TUSC
Phone (+2)01112078926
OR (+2)01280048933
Mail :
mohamed_elshora35@yahoo
.com
