USING THE VREELAND SPECTROSCOPE
FOR TEACHING MINERALOGY

 

University of Pittsburgh
at Johnstown

Johnstown Pennsylvania 15904
Telephone 814-269-7000

31 August 1998

 

Mr. John Hoyte, President
Spectrex Corporation
3580 Haven Ave
Redwood City, CA 94063

Dear Mr. Hoyte:

I am remise in not thanking you for sending the ceramic pillar. It did arrived and has been put to use already. Your kindness is much appreciated.

1, also, wanted to tell you how useful the Spectrex analyzer is in my mineralogy class; especially for the non-silicate minerals. Early in the term I give the students an introduction to the instrument with a small exercise to allow them an opportunity to use it under some supervision. After that is completed, then they are free to use it on their own as we work our way through the non-silicate minerals. Often if I am asked a question about a certain mineral, my first reaction will be to ask if the student has run a piece of the sample on the Spectrex. If not, then I suggest they do that and then come back if necessary. Generally determining the elements will assist the identification. Later, in the petrology class, I find that the students will use the Spectrex analyzer to check on the opaque minerals they find in the rocks. Transmission optical microscopes work well for the silicates, but not the opaques.

Again, thank you for sending the ceramic pillar that I needed, and I wanted you to know how useful I find the Spectrex analyzer for my mineralogy classes. I hope to see you at the Toronto GSA meeting in late October. Until then, I remain,

 

Yours very truly,

 

William R. Brice, Ph.D.
Professor, Geology & Planetary Science