sharing our knowledge.
Photographic gallery.  Thousands of particles under the microscope.
Asphalt Particle Under the Microscope

Asphalt Particle

This is an asphalt particle found on an impaction plate of an air sample collected near a major interstate highway.

Transmitted Off Crossed Circular Polarized Light Illumination

Definition/Function:

Significance in the Environment:

Characteristic Features:

The asphalt is not soluble in the adhesive on the impaction plate so the "bleeding" of the asphalt into the surrounding medium is not present.

Associated Particles:

References: