Mineralogy Laboratory

The Mineralogy Laboratory is used for teaching units such as, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Basin Analysis, Igneous Petrology, Metamorphic Petrology and for students taking their final year project during the second semester of their third year. The laboratory caters for a maximum of 25 students at one time per laboratory session because of the limited number of Nikon Polarizing Microscopes. Polarized light, unlike, regular unpolarized (white light) which we are used to, has waves that vibrate, only in one direction and is useful in the identification of minerals in thin section.

In addition, there is a sophisticated microscope attached to a camera which allows for the projection of the microscope image and aids teaching. This particular microscope has a higher specification because not only does this microscope have polarized light and diascopic illumination, it can be switched to episcopic light illumination which is useful for final year project Mechanical Engineering students.

1. Nikon Polarizing Microscope