VJ
VanTongeren, Jill Anne
Thu, May 16, 2024 4:02 PM
Dear all,
I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
Jill VanTongeren
Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
*I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
Dear all,
I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
Jill VanTongeren
Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
*I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
FK
Frank K. Mazdab
Fri, May 17, 2024 8:58 AM
Hi Jill,
one compromise option might be to prepare a set of initial 1” round epoxy mounts the way you’d like them, with the minerals of interest of appropriate size, diversity of habit, orientation, etc. Arranging crystal fragments and pouring epoxy can be done in an afternoon. But then rather than spending all summer making your own thin sections of these, just send the unpolished epoxy mounts as they are to whatever thin section prep company you normally use, and have them make the thin sections from these for you. I’ve made epoxy mounts in the past that I later decided I’d like thin sections of, and at least the prep company I use has never complained that those particular “billets” weren’t rectangular.
Making your own epoxy mounts also does give you near total control over how you would like the final thin sections to turn out. It would also give you the ability to make a specialty thin section that, for example, focused on quartz, but also had one or more areas of the original mount set aside for examples of beryl or nepheline or orthoclase (or all three), so students could "compare and contrast” optical properties of these superficially similar minerals with the featured quartz; I can envision a variety of other similar "compare and contrast” mounts one could make.
Frank
On 16 May 2024, at 09:02:54, VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org wrote:
External Email
Dear all,
I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
Jill VanTongeren
Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
*I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
Frank K. Mazdab
analytical mineralogist
Department of Geosciences
1040 E. 4th St., Gould-Simpson Bldg. (Bldg. 77)
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
fmazdab@arizona.edu
office: rm 342 Gould-Simpson Bldg.
www.rockptx.com
If you don’t want to be just another pebble on the beach, be a little boulder ⚒
Hi Jill,
one compromise option might be to prepare a set of initial 1” round epoxy mounts the way you’d like them, with the minerals of interest of appropriate size, diversity of habit, orientation, etc. Arranging crystal fragments and pouring epoxy can be done in an afternoon. But then rather than spending all summer making your own thin sections of these, just send the unpolished epoxy mounts as they are to whatever thin section prep company you normally use, and have them make the thin sections from these for you. I’ve made epoxy mounts in the past that I later decided I’d like thin sections of, and at least the prep company I use has never complained that those particular “billets” weren’t rectangular.
Making your own epoxy mounts also does give you near total control over how you would like the final thin sections to turn out. It would also give you the ability to make a specialty thin section that, for example, focused on quartz, but also had one or more areas of the original mount set aside for examples of beryl or nepheline or orthoclase (or all three), so students could "compare and contrast” optical properties of these superficially similar minerals with the featured quartz; I can envision a variety of other similar "compare and contrast” mounts one could make.
Frank
> On 16 May 2024, at 09:02:54, VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:
>
> External Email
>
> Dear all,
>
> I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
>
> Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
>
> Jill VanTongeren
> Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
>
>
> *I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
******************************************************
Frank K. Mazdab
analytical mineralogist
Department of Geosciences
1040 E. 4th St., Gould-Simpson Bldg. (Bldg. 77)
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ 85721
fmazdab@arizona.edu
office: rm 342 Gould-Simpson Bldg.
www.rockptx.com
**************************************************************************************
If you don’t want to be just another pebble on the beach, be a little boulder ⚒
**************************************************************************************
HD
Hummer, Daniel R
Fri, May 17, 2024 3:08 PM
Hi Jill,
Indeed, it's gotten progressively more difficult over the years to find thin sections for those of us who still teach optical labs. But I do know of an outlet based in the UK called "Geology Superstore" that has a decent selection of thin sections of both rocks and minerals that are very affordable (https://www.geologysuperstore.com/product-category/thin-sections/), and I know they ship to the US because I've purchased from them before. The website lists a large number of choices, but be aware that some are sold out and I don't know whether they are actively restocking, so you may need to contact them to find out exactly what they still have in stock. But you can probably find at least some of what you're looking for there. Hope this is helpful!
Best of luck,
Dan Hummer
DANIEL HUMMER
Associate Professor of Geology
SCHOOL OF EARTH SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
MAIL CODE 4324
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
PARKINSON LABORATORY 207
CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
daniel.hummer@siu.edu
P: 618.453.7386
SIU.EDU
-----Original Message-----
From: VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:03 AM
To: msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: [MSA-talk] optical mineralogy collections for purchase?
[EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or attachments.
Dear all,
I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
Jill VanTongeren
Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
*I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
Hi Jill,
Indeed, it's gotten progressively more difficult over the years to find thin sections for those of us who still teach optical labs. But I do know of an outlet based in the UK called "Geology Superstore" that has a decent selection of thin sections of both rocks and minerals that are very affordable (https://www.geologysuperstore.com/product-category/thin-sections/), and I know they ship to the US because I've purchased from them before. The website lists a large number of choices, but be aware that some are sold out and I don't know whether they are actively restocking, so you may need to contact them to find out exactly what they still have in stock. But you can probably find at least some of what you're looking for there. Hope this is helpful!
Best of luck,
Dan Hummer
DANIEL HUMMER
Associate Professor of Geology
SCHOOL OF EARTH SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
MAIL CODE 4324
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
PARKINSON LABORATORY 207
CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
daniel.hummer@siu.edu
P: 618.453.7386
SIU.EDU
-----Original Message-----
From: VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:03 AM
To: msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: [MSA-talk] optical mineralogy collections for purchase?
[EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or attachments.
Dear all,
I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
Jill VanTongeren
Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
*I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
_______________________________________________
MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
MK
Matt Kohn
Fri, May 17, 2024 8:56 PM
One option is to go to Dex Perkins' site, optical.minpet.org and look at
the compilation of photos and videos that show what you're looking for. The
videos are from my YouTube website (search on Matt Kohn Mineralogy) with
tutorials on 50 or so of the most common minerals you would likely care
about, including typical apatite.
Dex, John Brady, and I are still updating the optical website, but it's
already quite functional.
Check it out and see if it has what you want. And if not let us know.
Best,
Matt
On Sat, May 18, 2024, 12:53 AM Hummer, Daniel R via MSA-talk <
msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:
Hi Jill,
Indeed, it's gotten progressively more difficult over the years to find
thin sections for those of us who still teach optical labs. But I do know
of an outlet based in the UK called "Geology Superstore" that has a decent
selection of thin sections of both rocks and minerals that are very
affordable (
https://www.geologysuperstore.com/product-category/thin-sections/), and I
know they ship to the US because I've purchased from them before. The
website lists a large number of choices, but be aware that some are sold
out and I don't know whether they are actively restocking, so you may need
to contact them to find out exactly what they still have in stock. But you
can probably find at least some of what you're looking for there. Hope this
is helpful!
Best of luck,
Dan Hummer
DANIEL HUMMER
Associate Professor of Geology
SCHOOL OF EARTH SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
MAIL CODE 4324
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
PARKINSON LABORATORY 207
CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
daniel.hummer@siu.edu
P: 618.453.7386
SIU.EDU
-----Original Message-----
From: VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:03 AM
To: msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: [MSA-talk] optical mineralogy collections for purchase?
[EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or attachments.
Dear all,
I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for
my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets
of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through
and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain
monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin
sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID.
The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually
look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin
section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries,
rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to
seeing).
Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or
does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they
are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a
while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts,
but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available
before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
Jill VanTongeren
Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
*I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab
course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of
any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an
email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
One option is to go to Dex Perkins' site, optical.minpet.org and look at
the compilation of photos and videos that show what you're looking for. The
videos are from my YouTube website (search on Matt Kohn Mineralogy) with
tutorials on 50 or so of the most common minerals you would likely care
about, including typical apatite.
Dex, John Brady, and I are still updating the optical website, but it's
already quite functional.
Check it out and see if it has what you want. And if not let us know.
Best,
Matt
On Sat, May 18, 2024, 12:53 AM Hummer, Daniel R via MSA-talk <
msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:
> Hi Jill,
>
> Indeed, it's gotten progressively more difficult over the years to find
> thin sections for those of us who still teach optical labs. But I do know
> of an outlet based in the UK called "Geology Superstore" that has a decent
> selection of thin sections of both rocks and minerals that are very
> affordable (
> https://www.geologysuperstore.com/product-category/thin-sections/), and I
> know they ship to the US because I've purchased from them before. The
> website lists a large number of choices, but be aware that some are sold
> out and I don't know whether they are actively restocking, so you may need
> to contact them to find out exactly what they still have in stock. But you
> can probably find at least some of what you're looking for there. Hope this
> is helpful!
>
> Best of luck,
> Dan Hummer
>
>
> DANIEL HUMMER
> Associate Professor of Geology
> SCHOOL OF EARTH SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
> MAIL CODE 4324
> SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
> PARKINSON LABORATORY 207
> CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
>
> daniel.hummer@siu.edu
> P: 618.453.7386
> SIU.EDU
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org>
> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:03 AM
> To: msa-talk@minlists.org
> Subject: [MSA-talk] optical mineralogy collections for purchase?
>
> [EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or attachments.
>
> Dear all,
>
> I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for
> my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets
> of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through
> and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain
> monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin
> sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID.
> The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually
> look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin
> section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries,
> rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to
> seeing).
>
> Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or
> does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they
> are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a
> while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts,
> but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available
> before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
>
> Jill VanTongeren
> Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
>
>
> *I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab
> course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of
> any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an
> email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
> _______________________________________________
> MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
>
HR
Howard Richard Naslund
Fri, May 17, 2024 11:34 PM
Jill, I find using real rocks the best for reference minerals! A apatite rich Ferro gabbro gives a picture of apatite in context with a variety of orientations! I use an olivine- Augite-plagioclase gabbro to teach about birefringence and relief, again with obvious minerals in context. A relatively clean quartz-orthoclase-plagioclase granite helps to show the students the subtitle differences between these minerals. For the granite which is relatively coarse I have circled one of each with ink and marked by the letters a b and c.
H. R. (Dick) Naslund
Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2024, at 12:57 PM, Hummer, Daniel R via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org wrote:
Hi Jill,
Indeed, it's gotten progressively more difficult over the years to find thin sections for those of us who still teach optical labs. But I do know of an outlet based in the UK called "Geology Superstore" that has a decent selection of thin sections of both rocks and minerals that are very affordable (https://www.geologysuperstore.com/product-category/thin-sections/), and I know they ship to the US because I've purchased from them before. The website lists a large number of choices, but be aware that some are sold out and I don't know whether they are actively restocking, so you may need to contact them to find out exactly what they still have in stock. But you can probably find at least some of what you're looking for there. Hope this is helpful!
Best of luck,
Dan Hummer
DANIEL HUMMER
Associate Professor of Geology
SCHOOL OF EARTH SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
MAIL CODE 4324
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
PARKINSON LABORATORY 207
CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
daniel.hummer@siu.edu
P: 618.453.7386
SIU.EDU
-----Original Message-----
From: VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:03 AM
To: msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: [MSA-talk] optical mineralogy collections for purchase?
[EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or attachments.
Dear all,
I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
Jill VanTongeren
Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
*I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
Jill, I find using real rocks the best for reference minerals! A apatite rich Ferro gabbro gives a picture of apatite in context with a variety of orientations! I use an olivine- Augite-plagioclase gabbro to teach about birefringence and relief, again with obvious minerals in context. A relatively clean quartz-orthoclase-plagioclase granite helps to show the students the subtitle differences between these minerals. For the granite which is relatively coarse I have circled one of each with ink and marked by the letters a b and c.
H. R. (Dick) Naslund
Sent from my iPhone
> On May 17, 2024, at 12:57 PM, Hummer, Daniel R via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:
>
> Hi Jill,
>
> Indeed, it's gotten progressively more difficult over the years to find thin sections for those of us who still teach optical labs. But I do know of an outlet based in the UK called "Geology Superstore" that has a decent selection of thin sections of both rocks and minerals that are very affordable (https://www.geologysuperstore.com/product-category/thin-sections/), and I know they ship to the US because I've purchased from them before. The website lists a large number of choices, but be aware that some are sold out and I don't know whether they are actively restocking, so you may need to contact them to find out exactly what they still have in stock. But you can probably find at least some of what you're looking for there. Hope this is helpful!
>
> Best of luck,
> Dan Hummer
>
>
> DANIEL HUMMER
> Associate Professor of Geology
> SCHOOL OF EARTH SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
> MAIL CODE 4324
> SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
> PARKINSON LABORATORY 207
> CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
>
> daniel.hummer@siu.edu
> P: 618.453.7386
> SIU.EDU
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org>
> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:03 AM
> To: msa-talk@minlists.org
> Subject: [MSA-talk] optical mineralogy collections for purchase?
>
> [EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or attachments.
>
> Dear all,
>
> I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
>
> Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
>
> Jill VanTongeren
> Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
>
>
> *I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
> _______________________________________________
> MSA-talk mailing list -- msa-talk@minlists.org
> To unsubscribe send an email to msa-talk-leave@minlists.org
EK
Erik Klemetti Gonzalez
Mon, May 20, 2024 12:20 PM
I’ll concur with this — finding minerals in specific real rocks has always lead to the best outcomes for my students. If your microscope can use it, I use an object marker to circle specific minerals on thin sections so that student’s can learn to identify different minerals and textures. Makes circling much easier - then I can make a map of the section for student’s to use. If you have a larger class (I had 40 learning petrography last fall!), it does take some time to build up an appropriately sized collection of annotated thin sections. Here’s an example of the object marker: https://microscopecentral.com/products/nikon-micorscope-object-marker
I do use some oriented samples, but beyond showing some key general optical properties, they tend to be too “perfect.”
Cheers,
Erik
Dr. Erik W. Klemetti Gonzalez
Chair, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Associate Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences / Journalism
Olin 309
Denison University
Granville OH 43023
phone: 1-740-587-5788
Instagram/Threads: @rockyplanetdiscover https://www.instagram.com/rockyplanetdiscover/
Bluesky: @erikklemetti.bsky.social https://bsky.app/profile/erikklemetti.bsky.social
Column: Rocky Planet https://www.discovermagazine.com/blog/rocky-planet
Website: Magma Through Time & Space https://dumagma.weebly.com/
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0539-979X
Nil desperandum
Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing
On May 17, 2024, at 7:34 PM, Howard Richard Naslund via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org wrote:
Jill, I find using real rocks the best for reference minerals! A apatite rich Ferro gabbro gives a picture of apatite in context with a variety of orientations! I use an olivine- Augite-plagioclase gabbro to teach about birefringence and relief, again with obvious minerals in context. A relatively clean quartz-orthoclase-plagioclase granite helps to show the students the subtitle differences between these minerals. For the granite which is relatively coarse I have circled one of each with ink and marked by the letters a b and c.
H. R. (Dick) Naslund
Sent from my iPhone
On May 17, 2024, at 12:57 PM, Hummer, Daniel R via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org wrote:
Hi Jill,
Indeed, it's gotten progressively more difficult over the years to find thin sections for those of us who still teach optical labs. But I do know of an outlet based in the UK called "Geology Superstore" that has a decent selection of thin sections of both rocks and minerals that are very affordable (https://www.geologysuperstore.com/product-category/thin-sections/), and I know they ship to the US because I've purchased from them before. The website lists a large number of choices, but be aware that some are sold out and I don't know whether they are actively restocking, so you may need to contact them to find out exactly what they still have in stock. But you can probably find at least some of what you're looking for there. Hope this is helpful!
Best of luck,
Dan Hummer
DANIEL HUMMER
Associate Professor of Geology
SCHOOL OF EARTH SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
MAIL CODE 4324
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
PARKINSON LABORATORY 207
CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
daniel.hummer@siu.edu
P: 618.453.7386
SIU.EDU
-----Original Message-----
From: VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk msa-talk@minlists.org
Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:03 AM
To: msa-talk@minlists.org
Subject: [MSA-talk] optical mineralogy collections for purchase?
[EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or attachments.
Dear all,
I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
Jill VanTongeren
Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
*I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
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I’ll concur with this — finding minerals in specific real rocks has always lead to the best outcomes for my students. If your microscope can use it, I use an object marker to circle specific minerals on thin sections so that student’s can learn to identify different minerals and textures. Makes circling much easier - then I can make a map of the section for student’s to use. If you have a larger class (I had 40 learning petrography last fall!), it does take some time to build up an appropriately sized collection of annotated thin sections. Here’s an example of the object marker: https://microscopecentral.com/products/nikon-micorscope-object-marker
I do use some oriented samples, but beyond showing some key general optical properties, they tend to be too “perfect.”
Cheers,
Erik
Dr. Erik W. Klemetti Gonzalez
Chair, Earth & Environmental Sciences
Associate Professor, Earth & Environmental Sciences / Journalism
Olin 309
Denison University
Granville OH 43023
phone: 1-740-587-5788
Instagram/Threads: @rockyplanetdiscover <https://www.instagram.com/rockyplanetdiscover/>
Bluesky: @erikklemetti.bsky.social <https://bsky.app/profile/erikklemetti.bsky.social>
Column: Rocky Planet <https://www.discovermagazine.com/blog/rocky-planet>
Website: Magma Through Time & Space <https://dumagma.weebly.com/>
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0539-979X
Nil desperandum
Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing
> On May 17, 2024, at 7:34 PM, Howard Richard Naslund via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:
>
> Jill, I find using real rocks the best for reference minerals! A apatite rich Ferro gabbro gives a picture of apatite in context with a variety of orientations! I use an olivine- Augite-plagioclase gabbro to teach about birefringence and relief, again with obvious minerals in context. A relatively clean quartz-orthoclase-plagioclase granite helps to show the students the subtitle differences between these minerals. For the granite which is relatively coarse I have circled one of each with ink and marked by the letters a b and c.
> H. R. (Dick) Naslund
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On May 17, 2024, at 12:57 PM, Hummer, Daniel R via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Jill,
>>
>> Indeed, it's gotten progressively more difficult over the years to find thin sections for those of us who still teach optical labs. But I do know of an outlet based in the UK called "Geology Superstore" that has a decent selection of thin sections of both rocks and minerals that are very affordable (https://www.geologysuperstore.com/product-category/thin-sections/), and I know they ship to the US because I've purchased from them before. The website lists a large number of choices, but be aware that some are sold out and I don't know whether they are actively restocking, so you may need to contact them to find out exactly what they still have in stock. But you can probably find at least some of what you're looking for there. Hope this is helpful!
>>
>> Best of luck,
>> Dan Hummer
>>
>>
>> DANIEL HUMMER
>> Associate Professor of Geology
>> SCHOOL OF EARTH SYSTEMS AND SUSTAINABILITY
>> MAIL CODE 4324
>> SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
>> PARKINSON LABORATORY 207
>> CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901
>>
>> daniel.hummer@siu.edu
>> P: 618.453.7386
>> SIU.EDU
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: VanTongeren, Jill Anne via MSA-talk <msa-talk@minlists.org>
>> Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2024 11:03 AM
>> To: msa-talk@minlists.org
>> Subject: [MSA-talk] optical mineralogy collections for purchase?
>>
>> [EXTERNAL EMAIL ALERT]: Verify sender before opening links or attachments.
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I am interested in updating the petrographic thin section collection for my Intro Mineralogy lab course at Tufts University. Currently, I use sets of Ward’s teaching sections as “knowns” for the students to look through and make notes on (these are usually single grain or multi-grain monomineralic sections), and then give them “unknowns” of rock thin sections to test their knowledge and hone their skills at petrographic ID. The problem is that ~50% of the Wards sections of “knowns” don’t actually look very typical for the mineral in question (e.g. the apatite thin section is just one giant apatite grain with no visible grain boundaries, rather than a small grain with clear crystal habit that I am used to seeing).
>>
>> Can anyone recommend a good place to purchase something like this? Or does anyone have/know of a collection of teaching thin sections that they are no longer using that I could purchase? I know there was a thread a while back where folks described making their own sections of grain mounts, but I’m just wondering if there are other commercial options available before I spend my summer drowning in epoxy.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for any help/advice!
>>
>> Jill VanTongeren
>> Earth and Climate Sciences, Tufts University
>>
>>
>> *I would also be interested in updating the Introduction to Petrology lab course materials (both hand samples and thin sections), so if you know of any collections that are no longer in use, please let me know!
>>
>>
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