Welcome to Petrographic Microscopes website, where our specialty is the subject of polarizing microscopy.  Ore and mineral thin sections are viewed under polarized light when they are identified.  This gives the name, petrographic, to a polarizing microscope.

A birefriengent specimen exists characteristics that allows specific analysis and identification to be made under a cross polarized light condition.  When two polarizing filters are put into the same optical path, they can be rotated so their plane of polarization is 90 degrees.  This generally will allow no light to pass.

However, the light that is still transmitted in a polarizing light microscope will exhibit characteristics that can be measured and analyzed.  The basis for study of petrographic specimens can best be understood by reviewing the subject of optical mineralogy.  Any student in geology should be familiar with the general application of mineral identification using optical mineralogy techniques.

A petgrographic microscope, also knows as a polarizing microscope, is the tool of choice for a geological student in their study of rocks and minerals.  It is important to decide if your petrographic microscope should have only transmitted polarized light or should also have reflected polarized light.  The latter is often called an ore microscope as it can view thick polished specimens of rock and mineral ore under epi-illumination that is cross polarized.

The most common petrographic microscope has only simple transmitted light, where the plane polarized light is transmitted through the rock and mineral thin section, then passes through a second polarizing light filter called an analyzer.  If you are in the market for a petrographic microscope, we would be happy to assist you.