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Microscopical Practicum

* Exchange students do not have to consider this information when selecting suitable courses for an exchange stay.

Course Unit Code541-0010/05
Number of ECTS Credits Allocated4 ECTS credits
Type of Course Unit *Compulsory
Level of Course Unit *First Cycle
Year of Study *Third Year
Semester when the Course Unit is deliveredSummer Semester
Mode of DeliveryFace-to-face
Language of InstructionCzech
Prerequisites and Co-Requisites Course succeeds to compulsory courses of previous semester
Name of Lecturer(s)Personal IDName
SLI60prof. Ing. Vladimír Slivka, CSc., dr. h. c.
MAL70doc. Ing. Jiří Mališ, Ph.D.
Summary
In the subject, the student learns basic microscopic techniques in determining minerals and rocks by passing and reflected light, and the basic optical characteristics of selected rock-forming and ore minerals, expanded by an overview of the structures of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphosed rocks.
The subject is divided into two parts: microscopy in reflected and passing light. They will present the building of a microscope, species of slides for microscopy, various microscopic techniques and digital image analysis tools, determination of the optical properties of rock-forming and ore minerals, etc. In the practical part of the subject, the tudent will prepare microscopic slides itself in the form of a cross section and polished coating.
Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit
The student knows and can use microscopic techniques to identify rocks and minerals. It can explain the basic principles of the microscopy of minerals and rocks in passing and reflected light. Next, it can prepare a rock sample into a microscopic thin section. He can apply his knowledge to microscopic observations of basic minerals and rocks.
Course Contents
It is devoted to basic methods of optical identification of minerals in transmitted and reflected light in relation to the use of computers equipped with image analysis. The basic range of rock-forming and ore minerals is enhanced with an overview of the structures of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Schedule exercise of microscopy in transmitted light is as follows:
1st exercise
The character of light - theoretical introduction. Refraction and reflection of light. Polarization of light.
The distribution of substances by optical properties. Polarizing microscope.
Preparation of microscopic slides. Determination of grain size. Properties of minerals during observation nezkřížených not.
2nd exercise
Properties of minerals when viewed in crossed not. Quenching.
Interference colors. Compensators. Adhesions, and transformation.
Character Zones (character length). Optical character mineral. Working with compensators.
3rd exercise
Systematic Mineralogy - an overview of the optical properties of selected
rock-forming minerals.
4th exercise
Overview of the structures of igneous rocks.
5th exercise
Digital image analysis and its possibilities in mineralogy. Submission and checking of entered programs.

Schedule exercise of microscopy in reflected light is as follows:

Reflected light:

1st Exercise:
The construction of the microscope, the types of curtains, eyepieces and objectives, vertical illuminator (indoor vertical, internal oblique lighting, external oblique lighting).

2nd Exercise:
Types of drugs used in reflected light microscopy (theory and demonstration of making polished sections in the laboratory). Centering microscopes, centering the lamp.

3rd Exercise:
The color of minerals, the difference between colored and colorless minerals. Errors in determining the color of minerals. The reflectivity of ore minerals and coal.

4th Exercise:
Observations of the external oblique lighting - interior reflections of ore minerals. Properties of minerals in polarized light, sources of errors in observation in polarized light.

5th Exercise:
Evaluation of sets of unknown ore minerals in reflected light in terms of their optical properties.
Passing the final test of the reflected light.
Recommended or Required Reading
Required Reading:
MACKENZIE, W. S. a A. E. ADAMS. A colour atlas of rocks and minerals in thin section. London: Manson, c1994. ISBN 1-874545-17-0.
DEER, William Alexander, R. A. HOWIE a Jack ZUSSMAN. An introduction to the rock-forming minerals. 2nd ed. Harlow: Pearson Prentice Hall, 1992. ISBN 0-582-30094-0.
PICOT, P., JOHAN, Z.: Atlas of ore Minerals. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1982, 458 s.
WINCHELL, A. N.: Elements of Optical Mineralogy. – Vydav. John Wiley and Sons New York, 1976.
GREGEROVÁ, Miroslava, Bohuslav FOJT a Václav VÁVRA. Mikroskopie horninotvorných a technických minerálů. Brno: Moravské zemské muzeum, 2002. ISBN 80-7028-195-2.
MALIŠ, J.; MATÝSEK, D.; DANĚK, T. Optické určování minerálů a hornin. Výukový CD-ROM, projekt FRVŠ 1684/2003. VŠB-TU Ostrava.
DUDEK, Arnošt, František FEDIUK a Marie PALIVCOVÁ. Petrografické tabulky: příručka petrografické mikroskopie s atlasem struktur a textur. Vyd. 2. Praha: Nakladatelství Československé akademie věd, 1962.
MACKENZIE, W. S. a A. E. ADAMS. A colour atlas of rocks and minerals in thin section. London: Manson, c1994. ISBN 1-874545-17-0.
Recommended Reading:
KLEIN, Cornelis, Barbara DUTROW, James Dwight DANA a Cornelius Searle HURLBUT. The 23rd edition of the manual of mineral science: (after James D. Dana). 23rd ed. Hoboken: Wiley, c2008. ISBN 978-0-471-72157-4.
MACKENZIE, W., S.; ADAMS, A., E. A Colour Atlas of Rocks and Minerals in Thin Section. Manson Publishing, 1994.
KLEIN, Cornelis, Barbara DUTROW, James Dwight DANA a Cornelius Searle HURLBUT. The 23rd edition of the manual of mineral science: (after James D. Dana). 23rd ed. Hoboken: Wiley, c2008. ISBN 978-0-471-72157-4.
FEDIUKOVÁ, Eva. Optická disperze neopakních minerálů. Praha: Academia, 1972. Knihovna Ústředního ústavu geologického, sv. 44.
KAŠPAR, Pavel. Rudní mikroskopie: úvod do studia rudních minerálů v odraženém světle. Praha: Academia, 1988.
DVOŘÁK, Petr. Rudní mikroskopie. Ostrava: Vysoká škola báňská, 1985.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Tutorials
Assesment methods and criteria
Task TitleTask TypeMaximum Number of Points
(Act. for Subtasks)
Minimum Number of Points for Task Passing
CreditCredit85 85