"Image Superposition"

In this installment of the Micromount Corner, I want to share another way of enjoying mineral micromounts. We know that one of the attractions of mineral micromounts is the perfection of crystal form and presence of subtle crystal sub-faces that are typically washed out as the crystal grows larger. There is a way that you can capture the subtlety and perfection of crystal form in mineral micromounts that also harkens back to a time before mineralogists had photography as a tool. This technique is called "Image Superposition". The technique takes a little practice but once mastered some amazing crystal drawings can be created. In that time before photography, scientists used a device called a "Camera Lucida" to draw what they saw in the microscope. A Camera Lucida (sometimes this device is called a “Drawing Tube”) is a mirror affixed to the microscope such that images reflected from the mirror are directed into the right stereomicroscope ocular. Meanwhile, the left microscope ocular is directed through the microscope objective at the specimen under observation. In the brain, the image from the mirror and the image from the specimen are superimposed on top of each other. If a sheet of paper is placed under the mirror, the image of the specimen will appear to float on the surface of the paper. It is then a simple matter of following the outlines of the specimen to create a very accurate drawing of the specimen. Unfortunately a microscope fitted with a Camera Lucida is not an inexpensive item. What I will share with you is a very inexpensive way to create a "virtual" Camera Lucida by using one of the oculars in a stereomicroscope, a sheet of paper and a good light source. This arrangement will enable you, with practice, to create some amazing crystal drawings. The advantage of this technique is the ability to capture the crystal form with a very high degree of accuracy without the cost of photographic equipment. There are two basic optical arrangements for stereomicroscopes, the straight through ocular to objective arrangement and the tilted ocular through prisms to the objective arrangement. The technique is slightly different depending on the optical arrangement in your scope.

Basically here is how it works:
Once you have the basic shapes captured on paper you can use both eyes with the microscope and refine your drawing as required. You can enhance your micromount collection immeasurably with good crystal drawings of selected specimens. Minerals like Calcite, Wulfenite and Vanadinite are examples of minerals that exhibit varied crystal forms. Capturing these varied forms adds much enjoyment and appreciation to any micromount collection.

If you try this technique I would like to hear how it worked out for you.