Polarizing light microscopy provides mineralogical phase relationships from 1X – 400X
Stereo microscopy typically shows large field of views of raw material, lapped sections, polished thin sections, or polished sections.
Transmitted light crossed polarization microscopy (TL-XP) typically shows relationships between gangue minerals
Reflected light microscopy (RLM) typically shows relationships between ore minerals
Transmitted light microscopy (TLM) typically shows relationships between gangue mineral
Polished thin sections (1″ x 1-1/2″ x 30 um) are utilized for RLM, TLM, and Stereo Microscopy for exploration, economic geology, applied mineralogy, process mineralogy, applied microscopy, and mineral analysis.
Polished sections (1″ diameter) are utilized for RLM and Stereo Microscopy.
Lapped (roughly polished) slabs (~1″ thick x ~5″ diameter) and raw (unpolished) samples are utilized for Stereo Microscopy.