Scribd
Upload
55 views28 pages

Introduction to Ore Microscopy Techniques

The lecture on ore microscopy covers specimen preparation techniques for both reflected and transmitted light petrography, emphasizing the importance of polished sections. It details qualitative and quantitative mineral identification methods, focusing on properties such as color, bireflectance, and anisotropy. The document concludes that mastering these microscopy skills requires significant practice and understanding of different optical properties.

Uploaded by

Neuth Temmie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
55 views28 pages

Introduction to Ore Microscopy Techniques

The lecture on ore microscopy covers specimen preparation techniques for both reflected and transmitted light petrography, emphasizing the importance of polished sections. It details qualitative and quantitative mineral identification methods, focusing on properties such as color, bireflectance, and anisotropy. The document concludes that mastering these microscopy skills requires significant practice and understanding of different optical properties.

Uploaded by

Neuth Temmie
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

MP236 Economic Geology

and Mineralogy

Week 4. Lecture

INTRODUCTION TO ORE MICROSCOPY

Dr. Kaul Gena


Outline
• Preparation of specimens
• Introduction to microscopy
• Qualitative mineral identification
• Quantitative mineral identification
• Implications for process mineralogy
Preparation of Samples
• Different preparation techniques for different microscopic
methods
• Polished sections/blocks for reflected light petrography
• mainly used for ore petrography
• Thin sections (30 microns thick) for transmitted light
petrography
• Polished thin sections allow both reflected and transmitted
light petrography
Sphalerite in Reflected Light

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Sphalerite in Transmitted Light

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Preparation of Polished Sections
• Sample needs to be cut to size (ore sample), or
mounted in epoxy (mill or porous samples)
• Grinding to produce a flat surface
• usually silicon carbide paper or powder
• Polishing to produce a reflective surface
• aluminium oxide or diamond paste
• powder may go down to 0.05 microns
• Samples may be chemically etched
Preparation Sequence

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


600-mesh Silicon Carbide

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


15-micron Aluminium Oxide

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


0.05-micron Aluminium Oxide

Sphalerite

Chalcopyrite

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Without Intermediate Steps

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Pyrite Grain Prior to Etching

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


After Etching With HNO3

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Reflected Light Microscope

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Qualitative Mineral Identification
• Crystal habit
• Colour
• Hardness
• Reflectivity
• Bireflectance
• Reflectance pleochroism
• Anisotropy
Colour in Ore Petrology
Pyrite

Sphalerite

Chalcopyrite

Silicates
Colour in Ore Petrology

Marcasite

Galena
Sphalerite
Section With High Relief

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Section With No Relief

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Polishing scratch
Hard mineral

Soft mineral

Relative Hardness
Cleavage

Triangular pits
Internal Reflections
Internal Reflections

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Deformation Lamellae

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Advanced Optical Properties
• Bireflectance and reflectance pleochroism
• The reflectance and colour of a mineral may vary slightly as the
microscope stage is rotated
• Anisotropy
• With the polarizers crossed, the colour of the mineral may vary as
the stage is rotated

Both of these properties may be quite subtle, and


are best demonstrated in the laboratory
Bireflectance

The stage has been rotated 90 degrees between views

(From Craig & Vaughan, 1994)


Anisotropy
Conclusions
• Reflected light microscopy relies on a characteristic
set of properties different from those used in
transmitted light microscopy for mineral identification
• Of particular importance are colour, bireflectance, and
anisotropy
• Like transmitted light microscopy, reflected light skills
take considerable time to develop

You might also like