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COM165: ADVANCED MINERAL IDENTIFICATION USING THE POLARIZED-LIGHT MICROSCOPE
This class is an advanced continuation of the Techniques of Optical Crystallography (COM160) course, with emphasis given to practical laboratory identification of a variety of unknown comminuted mineral grains using the Becke line immersion method with calibrated refractive index liquids. Both uniaxial and biaxial minerals are analyzed, but work with biaxial minerals is stressed. Students gain additional experience in applying the fundamentals of extinction angle, optic angle, interference figure recognition and assessment of Becke line colors to the identification of mineral powders.
The Techniques of Optical Crystallography (COM160) course is a strongly advised prerequisite, or a well-grounded background on the principles of optical crystallography such as would be obtained in a university semester course of instruction.
Deadline to register for this class is May 31, 2010.
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No sessions currently scheduled for this course.
Are you interested in this course, but it is either not offered or not at a time that works with your schedule? Let us know and we will notify you when it is available next.
Offline registration is available by calling the registrar at 630-887-7100 or by downloading the offline registration form, completing it, and faxing to 630-887-7412.
* If a scheduled course is full, you may be placed in a waiting list.
- Review of some fundamental optical properties observable with the petrographic microscope, and use of ancillary apparatus:
- crystal systems and Miller indices
- the uniaxial and biaxial optical indicatrix
- optic sign, sign of elongation
- pleochroism, anomalous interference colors
- cleavage, extinction (AEEH) angles
- dispersion, birefringence
- application of microscope accessories to mineral identification: gypsum plate, quartz wedge, Berek compensator
- Interference figure recognition and orientation of the indicatrix; uniaxial and biaxial refractometry
- Overview of the optical properties of the more important mineral groups
- Laboratory identification of unknown uniaxial and biaxial mineral powders
Additional experience is gained in the identification of unknown comminuted mineral powders using immersion methods and polarized-light microscopy (PLM).
Everyone with the need for problem solving using optical crystallography and polarized- light microscopy, including:
- Chemists
- Materials scientists
- Geologists/Mineralogists
- Archaeologists
- Criminalists/forensic scientists
- Detailed course manual
- Each student use an Olympus BX51 microscope with polarized-light capability
Undergraduate science background
COM 100 Polarized Light and Chemical Microscopy
COM160 Techniques of Optical Crystallography: Crystal Identification using the Polarized Light Microscope
The student is notified at the end of the course whether or not they have successfully completed the requirements of the course based on:
- 100% attendance
- class participation
- completion of all course material
- completed and signed student evaluation form
Upon successfully meeting these requirements, a student is awarded a certificate of completion and IACET CEU credits, if available. Those who have not successfully passed the course requirements do not receive a certificate or IACET CEU credits.
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