The dicroscope

The instrument is built around a calcite, equiped with a loup and an opening at each end. The calcite divides the lightray into two polarised rays. Therefore you observe two images of your stone. By simple comparison you detect basic cristallographical information of the tested mineral.

You place the mineral in front of the instrument and direct it toward a light source. Then you compare the two images. Make sure to observe the mineral in different directions.

Both images stay identical this means that the mineral is isotropic, amorphous or micro cristallic.

When you observe two different colors then the mineral is double refracting and belongs to the group of uniaxial cristallic systems.

If you see three different colors, in fact two at a time, then the mineral is double refracting and belongs to the group of biaxial cristallic systems.

These results allow to arrange your mineral within the following 3 groups of crystallographic structure:

one single color isotropic cubic amorphous micro cristallic Analcime Cubic Zirkonia Cuprit Diamond Djevalite Fabulite Fluorite Gahnite Garnet         Almandine         Andradite         Demantoide         Grossulare         Hessonite         Melanite         Pyrope         Rhodolite         Spessartite         Tsavorite         Uvarovite Hauyne Melanite Periklas Pollucite Sphalerite Spinel YAG Amber Opal         Fireopal Glass         Moldavite         Obsidian         Tektite Agate         Aventurine         Calcedony         Carneol         Chrysoprase         Moosagate

two colors three colors anisotropic / doubly refracting uniaxial tetragonal hexagonal trigonal biaxial orthorhombic monoclinic triclinic Anatase Apophyllite Skapolite Vesuvianite Wulfenite Zircon Apatite Benitoite Beryl         Aquamarine         Bixbit         Goshenite         Heliodor         Morganite         Emerald Zinkite Calcite Dioptase Corundum         Ruby         Sapphire Phenakite Quartz         Amethyst         Ametrine         Rockcrystal         Smoky Quartz         Citrine Rhodochrosite Turmaline         Dravite         Indigolite         Rubellite Andalusite Anglesite Cerussite Chrysoberyl         Alexandrite Enstatite Hemimorphite Kornerupine Cordierite Peridot Phrenite Sinhalite Topaz Zoisite         Tanzanit Azurite Diopside Epidote Euclase Feldspar         Amazonite         Labradorite         Mikroklin         Moonstone         Orthoclase         Oligoclase         Sunstone         Sanidine Clinohumite Petalite Spodumen         Kunzite         Hiddenite Staurolite Titanite Vivianite Amblygonite Axinite Disthene, Cyanite Ulexite