Fundamental Minerals

Sialic Minerals

Feldspars

Feldspathoids

Quartz

Femic Minerals

Spodumene

Accessory Minerals

Rare Accessory

Alteration Products

Microstructures

Rocks

Jacupiranga complex

Diaspore - AlO(OH)

Named in 1801 by Abbé Rene Just Hauy (for an occurrence in Mramorsk Zavod, Sverdlovskaya Oblast, Middle Urals, Russia) from the Greek word to scatter, in allusion to the usual decrepitaton in the blowpipe flame. Diaspore is the main component of bauxite and some laterites (along with gibbsite and boehmite, is a major component of these rocks) and forms by the alteration of aluminuous minerals. Diaspore is found also as a hydrothermal mineral in some alkalic pegmatites, like in the Sagåsen Quarry (Norway).

Optical Properties:
• Habit: Tabular, Platy (Sheet forms like micas). Or in small, distinct particles dispersed in matrix.
• Color: Colorless.
• Cleavage: {010} Perfect.
• Relief: High.
• Pleochroism: colorless or pale red/violet.
• Birefringence: High, IV order.

diaspore(andy)(1).jpg

Panoramic view of a Diaspore-Natrolite Pegmatite. Image by Andy Tindle (Virtual Microscope). PPL image, field of view = 2.5cm. See also Diaspore-Natrolite - Virtual Microscope

Panoramic view of a Diaspore-Natrolite Pegmatite. Image by Andy Tindle (Virtual Microscope). XPL image, field of view = 2.5cm. See also Diaspore-Natrolite - Virtual Microscope

Bibliography

• Cox et al. (1979): The Interpretation of Igneous Rocks, George Allen and Unwin, London.
• Howie, R. A., Zussman, J., & Deer, W. (1992). An introduction to the rock-forming minerals (p. 696). Longman.
• Le Maitre, R. W., Streckeisen, A., Zanettin, B., Le Bas, M. J., Bonin, B., Bateman, P., & Lameyre, J. (2002). Igneous rocks. A classification and glossary of terms, 2. Cambridge University Press.
• Middlemost, E. A. (1986). Magmas and magmatic rocks: an introduction to igneous petrology.
• Shelley, D. (1993). Igneous and metamorphic rocks under the microscope: classification, textures, microstructures and mineral preferred-orientations.
• Vernon, R. H. & Clarke, G. L. (2008): Principles of Metamorphic Petrology. Cambridge University Press.

Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)
Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Diaspore (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Diaspore (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Diaspore (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Small diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Diaspore crystal (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Small diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Small diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)
Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)
Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)
Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)
Diaspore crystals (high relief; pale-pink) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (colorless and with dusty appearance due to numerous inclusions). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). PPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 20x (Field of view = 1mm)
Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)	Diaspore crystals (high birefringence) within a matrix formed by fibrous natrolite crystals (I order gray-yellow). Alkaline pegmatite from Sagåsen quarry, Tvedalen (Norway). XPL image, 1x (Field of view = 9mm)