Conoscopic interference pattern: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:43, 20 November 2009

Revision as of 21:36, 30 November 2009

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:''This page is about the geology/optical mineralogy term. For general information about interference, see [[Interference (wave propagation)]] or [[Interference pattern]]s''.

A '''Conoscopic interference pattern''' or '''interference figure''' is the best way to determine if a [[mineral]] is uniaxial or biaxial and also for determining optic sign in [[optical mineralogy]] with a [[petrographic microscope]]. To view this figure, you must focus on a mineral on the highest-power objective, in cross-[[polarized light]], condensing lens, and Bertand lens. This figure essentially shows all possible [[birefringence]] colors at once, including the extinctions (in dark bands called isogyres).