dissolve mineral and crystalized the minerals is another way to prepare the specimen for polarized light microscope examination. Yesterday, I dissolve several common ingredients for food seasonings and put a few drops on the slides to allow them to dry: table salt (Sodium Chloride), Sugar and Alum hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate. I also drop a few drops of methylene blue. Today they are all pretty much dried out – The sugar is still somewhat sticky but I can clearly see the sugar crystals in snow flake shape.
White Sugar Crystal under Polarized Light Microscope
White Sugar Crystal under Polarized Light (This is the first photo with some post processing by adjusting the gamma to 0.6 from 1.0)
The color of the sugar crystal shows richer color when I adjust the gamma correction. The loss of color must have been caused by the manual shooting mode.
White sugar crystal under polarized light microscope
White sugar crystal under polarized light microscope
Alum crystal under polarized light microscope
Table salt under polarized light microscope
Methylene blue under polarized light microscope
The photos are taken with Canon EOS T1i with Manual mode (ISO 400, exposure 4 sec, auto white balance). Nexcope CM701 converted polarized light microscope was used for observation.
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Microscope Talk 