FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Tracy]

In a separate topic about a quartz crystal with unknown inclusions, we received interesting advice on a good way to obtain clear images of the inclusions, from Alfredo Petrov:

When taking photos of inclusions in quartz, it helps to immerse the crystal in a bath of a fairly concentrated sugar solution. The relatively high refractive index of the solution reduces distortion at the quartz surface and the interior becomes more easily visible. And it's non-toxic and easy to rinse off, unlike most of the other optically dense liquids people use.

This is useful information for anyone who photographs specimens under magnification, so I wanted to share it with other readers.

Tracy