Abstract
The optical interference phenomenon of an iridescent grandite garnet was examined by using white light and laser light on the analogy of the X-ray diffraction method. A kinematical interpretation was also made for the observed angle and intensity of interference light. The regularly stratified layers which cause iridescence are deduced to be periodic twins oriented parallel to the growth layers in each sector with a periodicity of about 1,000 Å.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ingerson E, Barksdale JD (1943) Iridescent garnet from the Adelaide mining district, Nevada. Am Mineral 28:303–312
Isogami M (1976) Morphology and optical anomaly of silicate garnet. PhD Thesis, Univ Tōhoku
Kitamura K, Komatsu H (1978) Optical anisotropy associated with growth strain of yttrium garnet, Y3(Al, Fe)5O12. Krist Tech 13:811–816
Sanders JV (1968) Diffraction of light by opal. Acta Crystallogr A24:427–434
Takeuchi Y, Haga N (1976) Optical anomaly and structure of silicate garnets. Proc Jpn Acad 52:228–231
Wada N, Hirowatari, F, Takano Y (1978) Optical properties, twin point groups and chemical compositions of anisotropic garnets. J Mineral Soc Jpn 13:380–398
Winchell AN, Winchell H (1964) Elements of optical mineralogy, II. John Wiley and Sons, New York, pp 483–494
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hirai, H., Nakazawa, H. Origin of iridescence in garnet: An optical interference study. Phys Chem Minerals 8, 25–28 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00311159
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00311159