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Photographic gallery.  Thousands of particles under the microscope.

Wollastonite

The reractive index parallel to the long axis is Beta. As a result it shows both negative and positive signs of elogation depending on the rotational orientation of the crystal. The yellow crystals at "A" and the blue crystals at "B" demonstrate this fact. The smaller brighter cystals shows a positive sign of elongation. The larger and fainter crystals shows a negative sign of elongation.

Transmitted Crossed Linear Polarized Light with a Red Plate Compensator

Definition/Function:

Significance in the Environment:

Characteristic Features:

Associated Particles:

References:

Deer, W. A., R. A. Howie, and J. Zussman, AN INTRODCUTION TO THE ROCK-FORMING MINERALS, ISBN 0-582-30094-0, pp. 203-207, 1992.