Slow growth crystal series

Jbailey · Post by **Jbailey** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:20 am

Here are a series showing the difference in crystal size when grown quickly and when grown slowly using my home-made heated stage.

The first photo of each three shows the original fast grown crystals. The following two are cought in mid slow growth. There is little difference in the first set except the growth progresses over many minutes so I can photograph them at my leisure.

The second set shows a more pronounced difference in the crystal appearance.

The optics are an ancient brass Reichert scope with a no-name 4X achromat objective. The Eyepiece is a #2 Reichert Huygens. I think it is a 10X. Simple crossed polarizers.

Ethylene Carbonate Crystals-Fast grown

EC crystals Slow growth

Salol crystals Fast growth

Salol crystals Slow growth

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:34 am

I love looking at these things. Do you need the polarized light to see the colors?

Jbailey · Post by **Jbailey** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 4:22 pm

Mitch:

The polarizers are essential. Without them you get totally colorless images.

I use inexpensive polarizing film material. It's available from many surplus dealers. I have had this small sheet for over 30 years. I cut one disk to fit on top of my scope's condenser. A second piece is cut to sit on top of the eyepiece.

Just rotate the eyepiece filter until the the view without a slide in place is as dark as possible.

Jim

Mitch640 · Post by **Mitch640** » Wed Oct 20, 2010 4:29 pm

Thanks for the explanation Jim. I have seen that film before.