This document discusses the use of a petrographic microscope for mineral identification. It begins by explaining why microscopes are used, such as for identifying minerals without guessing, determining rock and crystallization sequences, and documenting deformation history. It then describes how plane polarized light and crossed nicols work to reveal properties of isotropic and anisotropic minerals. Key mineral identification properties discussed include color, pleochrism, refractive index and relief. Birefringence is also introduced as a property seen under crossed polars related to the refractive index difference along crystallographic axes.