What is reflected light in mineralogy ?
Reflected light : definition
Reflected light is a type of lighting used under a metallographic microscope to identify opaque minerals under a transmission microscope.
For a reflected light study, samples are first polished and then illuminated perpendicular to the polished surface. The light beam is partially absorbed and partially reflected by the mineral, with intensities and characteristics varying according to the species, which allows mineralogical identifications. As with a transmission microscope, observations are made in natural light and in polarized light.
For a reflected light study, samples are first polished and then illuminated perpendicular to the polished surface. The light beam is partially absorbed and partially reflected by the mineral, with intensities and characteristics varying according to the species, which allows mineralogical identifications. As with a transmission microscope, observations are made in natural light and in polarized light.