Hello from Florida

What is your microscopy history? What are your interests? What equipment do you use?
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Maryfox
Posts: 57
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 5:10 pm
Location: Florida, USA

Hello from Florida

#1 Post by Maryfox » Fri Jan 04, 2019 5:33 pm

I am about as newbie as they come. Bought one of those cheap digital microscopes last summer. Had some fun with it, but it was like a “gateway drug” – I want more. Christmas brought me an Amscope student microscope with a USB camera. I have no particular area of interest; I just want to know about everything. Starting with beginner stuff like salt, mold, leaves, seawater and beach sand. I’m a retired software geek living on the East coast of Florida. Hoping this forum will help me learn the ropes.

Hobbyst46
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Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:02 pm

Re: Hello from Florida

#2 Post by Hobbyst46 » Fri Jan 04, 2019 5:54 pm

Welcome! Microscopy and software can go hand in hand (if so wished). I do not not find salt (common table salt) interesting. By contrast, fine transparent sand grains, by contrast, can be amuzingly colorful under the polarizing microscope.

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75RR
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Location: Estepona, Spain

Re: Hello from Florida

#3 Post by 75RR » Fri Jan 04, 2019 7:26 pm

Welcome Maryfox
I’m a retired software geek living on the East coast of Florida
Did not know that so much time had passed ... here is hoping you retired young.

In defense of salt:
If you dissolve salt in a little water and let it evaporate on a slide it forms fascinating pyramid shaped crystals.
Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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Maryfox
Posts: 57
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 5:10 pm
Location: Florida, USA

Re: Hello from Florida

#4 Post by Maryfox » Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:44 pm

Thanks for the welcome messages. Kosher salt is somewhat interesting. I'll try dissolving and evaporating table salt - sounds interesting. I also have Maldon (flake) salt to look at. Mold is next - there's some moldy cheese in the fridge. All of this helps me learn about my scope. Retired in '04 at age 62.

Hobbyst46
Posts: 4277
Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2017 9:02 pm

Re: Hello from Florida

#5 Post by Hobbyst46 » Sat Jan 05, 2019 2:51 pm

All sea salt for consumption or preparing salted meat and fish are mostly sodium chloride, regardless of maker. So I would not expect any difference bewteen makes, when dissolving then evaporating, to see any difference in the crystals. Sodium chloride appears as cubic crystals, very symmetric. Because of the symmetry it is not birefringent, so, when used under polarization microscopy, should not yield the spectacular colors visible from many chemicals and drugs (paracetamol, malic acid, many others). The crystals are beautiful though. Crystal size can be regulated somewhat by controlling the crystallization.

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75RR
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Re: Hello from Florida

#6 Post by 75RR » Sat Jan 05, 2019 3:50 pm

Sample pyramid salt crystal:
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Zeiss Standard WL (somewhat fashion challenged) & Wild M8
Olympus E-P2 (Micro Four Thirds Camera)

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