Pleochroic Halo

pleochroic halo, ring of colour produced around a radioactive impurity included in a mineral by alpha particles emitted from the radioactive elements in the inclusion. Because most of the energy of an alpha particle is absorbed at the end of its path length in a mineral, these colour centres are produced most intensely around the inclusion. The halos exhibit different colours when viewed in different directions because they differentially absorb light that vibrates in different directions. Pleochroic halos are commonly found in the minerals biotite, fluorite, and amphiboles; the most common inclusions are the minerals zircon, xenotime, apatite, and monazite.

The distance of the rings from the central radioactive inclusion depends upon the range of the alpha particles. Consequently, each ring may be identified with alpha emission by a specific element. Giant halos have been observed and cited as possible evidence for superheavy elements that emit very energetic alpha particles. It is generally believed that the giant halos result from some diffusion of the radioactivity and not from superheavy elements. The colour intensity of the ring diminishes with time and can be used to date the mineral in which the pleochroic halo appears.