December 12, 2003

AMATEUR NIGHT - Optical "Escences"

SMSI Minutes
Optical "Escences," Amateur Night 12 Dec. 2003

Bill Mikuska showed a Skip Palenik article from the Courier News 11 Nov. 03 about paint analysis of Kenworth trucks which connected the Green River Murder with the victims; and a Special issue by another SMSI member, Daniel E. Kile in Nov./Dec. 2003 of Mineralogical Record who wrote a detailed account of "The Petrographic Microscope: Evolution of a Mineralogical Research Instrument." Bill also showed some commercial twisted plastic decorations, made by Tranceglow, which can be used to demonstrate circular polarized light chirality, retardation and absorption.

Kendall Winter demonstrated some problems of making optical calcite and clear examples of optical calcite recently obtained at a mineral show.

Wynn Hopkins showed the c axis of some quartz spheres and a Lewenhoek microscope which he is making out of copper.

Jim Benko demonstrated the cleaning of Roman coins bought from the American Science Center with a tungsten needle under a microscope. He also showed nice microscope slide labels obtained from a CD rom purchased at the dollar store.

Robert Weaver showed microscopic differences between laser and ink jet printing with use of black and with colored inks.

Sharon Jankauskas presented a microscopic mystery problem from the paint company where she works. Sharon also showed a giant curved compensator (amber plexiglass).

Art Struss presented the contents of a CD tutoral he is making for gypsum analysis to demonstrate quartz impurities, synthetic gypsum, alpha & beta anhydrite. He gave everyone samples of synthetic gypsum, alpha calcium sulfate hemihydrate, and beta calcium sulfate hemihydrate.

Stan Schmidt showed a difference between types of ivory which was not known until recently by use of schreger angles. http://www.lab.fws.gov/ivory/elephant.html.

Bill Mikuska ended by covering some of Clyde W. Mason's (Chamot and Mason) interests in the coloration exhibited by insects, birds, and the human eye. Bill showed color changes in morpho butterfly wings with drops of chlorinated or brominated solvents, acetone and J&B scotch, all polar solvents able to wet the butterfly scales.

Respectfully submitted, Stan Schmidt, Recording Secretary