Optical Microscopy

Abstract

Optical microscopy is one of the most recurrent, widespread, and oldest examination techniques used in scientific investigation, and of frequent use in the research of archaeological materials. It is based on a microscope that uses light and a system of lenses for the examination of samples. It is capable of magnifying small areas, resulting in the examination of the (micro) constituents and structure of the materials. Most optical microscopes can provide images with magnifications from 50× to 1,000×. An optical microscope can take various configurations, each one with specific advantages for different types of materials. Transmitted light optical microscopy is frequently used for observation of thin sections of semitransparent materials such as ceramics and petrographic samples. Reflected light microscopy is mainly used for opaque materials such as metals. The use of polarized light has advantages in the identification of minerals through their colors.