finnchaga
Highly double-refractive carbonate inclusions
Typical carbonate inclusions in Selvino quartz crystal. Not analysed yet, but probably dolomite or calcite.
The host rock is triassic, bitumen-containing dolomite. Later hydrothermal fluids passed through the tectonically affected rock and deposited beautiful quartz crystals, a majority of them double-terminated, with some lacking or with shortened prism faces.
Many carbonates like calcite and dolomite have very high birefringence (double refraction), which has been used to great advantage in optical science and instrumentation.
The carbonate molecule(s) in many minerals also produce(s) very strong Raman scattering, useful even for equipment calibration. Plane-polarised light, FOV=1,5mm.
Highly double-refractive carbonate inclusions
Typical carbonate inclusions in Selvino quartz crystal. Not analysed yet, but probably dolomite or calcite.
The host rock is triassic, bitumen-containing dolomite. Later hydrothermal fluids passed through the tectonically affected rock and deposited beautiful quartz crystals, a majority of them double-terminated, with some lacking or with shortened prism faces.
Many carbonates like calcite and dolomite have very high birefringence (double refraction), which has been used to great advantage in optical science and instrumentation.
The carbonate molecule(s) in many minerals also produce(s) very strong Raman scattering, useful even for equipment calibration. Plane-polarised light, FOV=1,5mm.