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Photographic gallery.  Thousands of particles under the microscope.

Red Particles Colored by Hemitite

This is part of a guide to the identification of particles seen in samples of free particles. It is designed to allow access to files using any significant feature noticed by the microscopist rather than requiring a specific set of measured parameters. Often the most significant feature of a particle is unique to that particle type and so is not a useful diagnostic element for a broader Key for particles in general. This guide will lead to the same particle through a number of different paths depending on features and the order of significance placed on those features by the microscopist/analyst. When a particle is found that appears to be similar to the one being identified it may be useful to go to the file of particles of that type. For instance, if it looks like a starch grain then it may be useful to go to the "Starch" file in this gallery and see a larger variety of starch grains for comparison. The photographs of the particles shown here are both from standard sets and from environmental samples collected over many years by this laboratory.

Hematite

Hematite Hematite Hematite Hematite Hematite Hematite Hematite Sphere Hematite Sphere Hematite Sphere

Red Sands

Sand from Kununurra, Australia Sand from Kununurra, Australia Sand from Kununurra, Australia Sand from Kununurra, Australia Sand from Sedona, Arizona Sand from Sedona, Arizona Sand from Sedona, Arizona Sand from Sedona, Arizona

Burnt Soil

Burnt Clay from a Forest Fire Aerosol Burnt Clay from a Forest Fire Aerosol Forest Fire Dust

Red Forest Fire Retardent

Wildfire Debris in a Home Wildfire Debris in a Home Wildfire Debris in a Home Wildfire Debris in a Home Wildfire Debris in a Home

Cosmetics

Rouge