2.4: Parts of the Petrographic Microscope

Sampling aggregate at a concrete block manufacturing plant, this time it was Lytag, a lightweight aggregate made from processed pulverised fuel ash. It’s fascinating stuff: man-made rather than natural, yet still very much within the realm of geology when you start looking at it under the microscope. I took samples for petrographic examination, to assess the composition, particle texture and any potential reactivity issues that might influence the performance of the finished concrete blocks. #Ag