Course Outline & Syllabus

Techniques for the analysis and comparison of microscopic glass fragments, including measurements of refractive index and dispersion, will be covered. Polarized light microscopy, surface-sensitive imaging techniques, fluorescence and SEM/EDS will be utilized for characterization of glass samples.

Prerequisite: The Forensic Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) course serve as a prerequisite for the advanced courses. Students must complete the Forensic Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM) course or submit proof of competency to the director before an application to the advanced courses will be accepted.

Day 1:

• Basics of Light Microsocpy
• Koehler illumination
• Micrometry
• Basics of refractive index methods: Becke line, dispersion staining, phase contrast
• Glass types: Natural sources [animal (radiolarian), vegetable (diatoms, plant opal), mineral (pumice, obsidian, perlite, etc.)], stress and morphology
• Man-made sources of glass: float glass process, molded glass, blown glass, compositions
• Glass fibers: mineral wool, ceramic wool, fiber glass

Day 2:

• Dispersion staining
• Measurements of dispersion: use of C, D and F filters, use of interference wedges, use of the Lomo disk
• Hot Stage methods: Grim (phase contrast with hot stage), Mettler hotstage, double-variation method
• Analysis of glass samples

Day 3:

• Forensic Examination and Classification: color, steteromicroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, interference microscopy, polarized light microscopy

Day 4:

• Particle handling: tungsten needles, polyethylene pipettes, temporary mounts for storage and refractive index, mounts for SEM/EDS
• Electron microscopy and elemental analysis

Day 5:

• Continued laboratory practice

Dates:

March 31-April 4, 2008 Closed
November 17-21, 2008 Closed