[meteorite-list] Question About Petrographic Thin Section Problem

From: ensoramanda <ensoramanda_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:21:18 +0100
Message-ID: <469A497E.7050704_at_ntlworld.com>

Hi Paul,

I have no experience with thin sections, but as a last resort would it
be possible to grind off the whole of the glass slide together with the
epoxy. After all, glass is just another form of silica.

Graham Ensor, Nr Barwell UK

Paul wrote:

>Dear Friends,
>
>Recently, a friend of mine prepared three thin
>sections for me of some rock samples. However,
>about a week after he finished them, it was
>noticed that something had gone wrong with the
>epoxy, which was used to cement the rock billets
>to the glass slide. Over a period of a week, it
>had started crystallize causing numerous linear
>strings of crystals to form between the 0.3 micron
>layer of rock and the glass slide and clouding
>what should have been a clear cement. Needless
>to say, there is now nothing, which can done
>about these slides and as thin epoxy crystallizes,
>they will be a total loss. (Note: this is the
>second time a batch of this brand of epoxy has
>caused this problem.)
>
>However, he noticed this problem right after he
>had glued another billet to the glass slide and
>before he done any trimming of the billet in
>preparation for grinding. Since the epoxy used
>in mounting this slide will crystallize in time,
>we concluded that there was not any point in
>proceed any further with the preparation of
>this thin section.
>
>Is there any way which I can remove the glass
>slide from the prepared billet in case of this
>sample?
>
>If I could, then I could grind off the epoxy
>cement, polish the billet, and glue it again to
>a glass slide and prepare a thin section using
>good epoxy, which will not crystallize. Getting
>the sample cost me considerable time and effort
>and would be difficult to recollect. Thus,
>finding a way to remove the glass slide, so I
>can prepare a thin section whose epoxy will not
>crystallize from this billet would be quite
>helpful.
>
>The sample consists of sandstone.
>
>Any suggestions about how can remove the glass
>slide and start over with this sample would
>greatly appreciated.
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Paul
>
>
>
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Received on Sun 15 Jul 2007 12:21:18 PM PDT