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Illumination of Coal

Zeiss Universal Research Microscope

Complete Instrument List

Contact: Gary Mitchell

Illumination of Coal Using Different Light Sources

The Zeiss Universal Research Microscope with reflected white- and blue- light illumination using a series of oil immersion and air objective lenses to provide magnifications from 100X to 1000X. This microscope is typically used for point count analysis techniques and can employ one of three Swifts automatic point-count stages. This instrument has a 35 mm camera or a solid state video camera and monitor for characterization and group demonstrations. The photographic pair at the right shows the variety of components that compose coal as well as its' relative condition when viewed in light of different wavelengths. The darkened edges along fractures seen in the blue-light photograph reveal that the coal particle is weathered.

Illumination of Coal
Publications relative to the maceral composition of coal and weathering and oxidation of coal can be viewed under COPL publications.

Key Contact

Gary Mitchell

(814) 865-6543

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