The document discusses the purpose and types of slide preparation in mineralogy. There are four main types of specimen that can be prepared: 1) thin sections for transmitted light, 2) polished thin sections for transmitted/reflected light, 3) thick sections for reflected light, and 4) polished blocks for reflected light. The preparation process involves cutting and grinding specimens down to the required thickness, then cementing them to glass slides and polishing to create thin sections that can be analyzed under microscopes. Specialized equipment like rock saws, grinding machines, and polishing machines are used in the multi-step preparation process.

1. SUBMITTED BY: NEERAJ
SHARMA
ROLL NO.:CUHP18ENV16SUBMITTED TO : DR. ANURAG LIND

2. PURPOSE OF SLIDE PREPARATION
IN MINERALOGY
 Classification of rocks
 Identification and mapping of minerals , dating or exploration
 Analysis: major and trace elements , textural studies , isotopic composition
 Studies of fluid inclusion
 Studies of microfossil
 Studies of rock fabrics e.g. porosity and permeability
 Studies of texture and age of bones / teeth

3. SPECIMEN TYPES
Specimen types can be split into 4 groups
1. Thin section (30µm ) (+cover glasses)-for examination in transmitted light or electron microscope/probe
2. Polished thin section-for examination in transmitted /reflected light or electron microscope/probe
3. Thick sections (100µm) – for examination in reflected light or electron microscope/ probe
4. Polished blocks /mounts-for examination in reflected light or electron microscope/probe
Specimen type 1,2,3 all have special requirements from a materialographic point of view
.Differences between the three types are characterized by surface finishing and specimen thickness.
Specimen type 4 is a more conventional materialographic specimen in term of requirements

4. The same
mineralogical
material will
have similar
preparation
methods
across the four
different
specimen
types

5. 1. Rock saws : automatic machine with
clamping and diamond saw blades 2.Grinding machine: 2 grinding discs made
of cast iron between 15cm and 30cm

6. 3. Polishing machines: semi automatic
polishing machines , polishing discs
4.Polarization microscope:

7. Production of thin section is a multistep process
which require highly specialized equipment
1) Sampling from larger section
Thin section
preparation

8. 2. Cutting of a specimen to 20*30*8.0mm
Thin section preparation

9. Thin section preparation
3. Grinding or lapping of the specimen to complete planes

10. 4. Grinding of glass slide to complete planes and a
well defined thickness
Thin section
preparation

11. 5. Cementing the specimen to a glass slide
Thin section
preparation

12. 6. Cutting off surplus specimen material to thickness of 0.5-2.0mm
Thin section
preparation

13. 7. Grinding of thin sections to a thickness of 80µm
Thin section
preparation

14. 8. Grinding or lapping of a thin section to a final thickness of
section +resin 30µm
Thin section
preparation

15. 9. Polishing of thin section removing approximately 10µm
Thin section
preparation