Black Particles from an Office
The black particles in this field of veiw include a
magnetite sphere (lower left), cenospheres from
diesel truck traffic (upper right), and tire wear (center, upper left and lower
right). This is from an environmental
tapelift that was collected in an office in Oakland, CA.
Transmitted Off Crossed Circular Polarized Light and Reflected Darkfield Illumination
Definition/Function:
The magnetite sphere is marked by the ring of light near the center that is the
reflection of the ring illuminator creating
the reflected darkfield illumination. The cenospheres show the reflectivity of highly
coordinated carbon and the pocked
surface caused by outgassing as the hydrogen is burned away in a low oxygen environment.
The tire wear shows the mineral
inclusions and the low reflectivity due to the carbon pigment being coated with a
transparent medium; the rubber.
Significance in the Environment:
Characteristic Features:
Associated Particles:
References:
http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/blitz/bionorslide.html
