LabELISA

Thin Section lab

The thin section laboratory is in the room 2E12b at Realfagbygget Allegatén 41, University of Bergen, and is designed for the preparation of rock and other solid samples for subsequent investigations through various analytical techniques. The laboratory is equipped with machines for precision cutting, precision and manual grinding and polishing, and allows preparation of materials of different hardness, porosity and consolidation.

Epoxy mounts of coal samples with diameter of 25mm. These samples were prepared by Miriana Chinello.

Photo:

Leonardo Paqualetto

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Block, thick section and fluid inclusion section of stalagmite. The glass slides are 48x28 mm sized. There samples were prepared by Hao Ding.

Photo:

Leonardo Paqualetto

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Scan in parallel polarized and cross polarized light of a thick sections of eclogite. The glass slide is 48x28 mm sized. The sample was prepared and scanned by Leonardo Pasqualetto.

Photo:

Leonardo Paqualetto

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Thin section of hydrothermal calcite. Bottom edge of the photograph = 3.5 mm. The sample was prepared by Leonardo Pasqualetto.

Photo:

Leonardo Paqualetto

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Main content

The main activity of the lab consists in:

- Preparation of 48x28 mm sized thin sections (thickness of 30 µm) of rocks and crystalline materials for optical microscopy analysis and more. A cover glass or acrylic varnish can be added on the section to aid the optical investigation.

- Preparation of 48x28 mm sized thin sections (thickness of >30 µm) of rocks and crystalline materials for Scanning Electron Microscope or Trace Element analysis.

- Preparation of epoxy mounts of different sizes (diameter of 25, 30 and 50 mm) of unconsolidated or porous materials for subsequent Scanning Electron Microscope, Trace Element or microRaman analysis. This can also include the use of impregnation vacuum machine in case of very porous samples.

- Preparation of 48x28 mm sized non-polished sections (thickness of 300-350 µm) or double-polished sections (thickness of 200-250 µm) for fluid inclusion microthermometry analysis.

- Preparation of very delicate materials – e.g. fragile rocks like speleothem, soft minerals like gypsum and materials with hardness heterogeneities like sandstones – including cutting with delicate precision (rotary and wire) saws, manual grinding and polishing.

- Fine polishing for Scanning Electron Microscope analysis, including Electron Backscattered Diffraction analysis.

The laboratory is also equipped with a petrographic microscope with transmitted and reflected light and a stereo microscope to evaluate the quality of the preparation of the prepared samples.

11.06.2026