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An optical anomaly possibly due to optical activity in some uniaxial opaque ore minerals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

A. J. Hall ,
B. D. Cervelle  and
P. R. Simpson
A. J. Hall
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Geology, University of Strathclyde, James Weir Building, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ
B. D. Cervelle
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Minéralogie-Cristallographie, associé au C.N.R.S., Université Pierre et Marie-Curie, Tour 16, 4, place Jussieu, 75230 Paris Cedex 05
P. R. Simpson
Affiliation:
Institute of Geological Sciences, 64/78 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8NG
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Summary

Spectral reflectance measurements on three uniaxial ore minerals, tellurium, chalcopyrite, and stibioluzonite, which are opaque at least in the visible part of the spectrum have revealed that the reflectance curve of the ordinary ray varies with crystallographic orientation of the polished section. The three minerals possess symmetries capable of exhibiting optical activity in transmitted light. A possible explanation, therefore, of the anomalous behaviour is that the optical constants, i.e. the refractive index and the absorption coefficient, and thus also the reflectance, of the ordinary ray may differ for sections cut normal to c where optical activity probably has its maximum effect and for sections cut parallel to c where there is probably little or no complication due to optical activity. There would therefore appear to be a need to extend the theory of reflection from absorbing media to include reflection from optically active absorbing minerals.

Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 43 , Issue 331 , September 1980 , pp. 909 - 912
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1980

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References

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