Microscopy and Microthermometry

The research microscope is a Zeiss Axiophot Pol polarizing microscope with integrated film cameras, and fitted for transmitted and reflected light. Image capture is either by analog CCD colour video camera fitted to a thermo videoprinter or by high-resolution digital camera (Zeiss AxioCam MRc) and the Zeiss AxioVision Imaging software.
Our stereomicroscope Zeiss Stemi SV11 is fitted with transmitted polarized light and an external fibre optic light system for opaque and macroscopic material. The same systems for image capture work on the stereomicroscope.

The microthermometry equipment in the Raman spectroscopy lab comprises two LINKHAM stages, one for heating and cooling from -196 to 600°C (THM600) and one for high-temperature heating to 1500°C (LINKAM TS 1500). The Vernadsky heating stage also achieves 1500°C temperature but has a much smaller thermal mass and can be operated with a protective inert gas atmosphere (dry He) to achieve rapid-quench of inclusion glass and to prevent oxidation of Fe-bearing host minerals.