Gallery of Photomicrographs

CATEGORY INDEX

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Support the Microlab Gallery Micrograph Education Archive

This micrograph website is a carefully curated educational resource created and maintained by E.R. Crutcher, a microscopist with decades of experience in particle identification, materials analysis, and applied microscopy. The site was developed to serve students, educators, laboratories, and anyone seeking reliable, experience-based visual references for microscopic materials. Each micrograph represents not just an image, but years of accumulated knowledge—how particles form, how they behave under different illumination techniques, and how they can be correctly interpreted in real-world contexts. The collection is intended to remain freely accessible as an educational tool, supporting learning, training, and accurate analysis across disciplines. Maintaining this resource requires significant time, expertise, and ongoing technical costs, including imaging, documentation, hosting, and updates. Donations help keep the site active, accessible, and growing, and directly support the continued sharing of ER Crutcher’s knowledge with the broader scientific and educational community. If you find value in this resource, please consider donating. Your support helps preserve a unique educational archive and ensures it remains available for future learners and professionals. Statement of Use of Images & Copyright Notice All images, micrographs, figures, and associated content displayed on this website are solely copyrighted by Microlab Northwest, LLC unless otherwise stated. These images and materials are provided for educational and informational purposes only. No image, text, or content may be copied, reproduced, distributed, published, modified, transmitted, or used in any form—whether digital, print, commercial, or non-commercial—without prior written authorization from Microlab Northwest, LLC. Unauthorized use of any images or content is strictly prohibited and may violate applicable copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.

Use of this content in any media must include attribution:E.R. Crutcher, Microlab Northwest

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The images and information presented on this website are intended solely for educational reference and general scientific learning. They are not intended to serve as diagnostic, regulatory, legal, or professional advice, nor should they be relied upon as a substitute for independent analysis or consultation with qualified professionals. Microlab Northwest LLC makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy, or applicability of the information provided. Microlab Northwest LLC assumes no liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the use or misuse of the images or content contained on this website. By using this website and its content, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please close the website.

Instructions

Light microscopy is still the single most versitile single analytical instrument availible. One of the reasons for this capability is the variety of properties that can be seen or made visible by controling the illumination systems. The light microscope is basically an optical bench that can be used in a variety of ways. A new section on this site is a guide to the optical properties of particles. It includes a brief introduction to the light microscope as an optical bench. Optical Properties of Particles

There are about 8,000 photographs of particles on this site. I have started a guide to these particles to aid in identification. By clicking on the particle showing the feature of interest it will carry you to the next level with a number of additional particles that have similar features. It is just in the begining stages but you may find it useful. Check this out at this location: Guide to Particle Identification.

Just Added

I have just entered the photographs of the particles in the mysterious White Rain that fell in Washington State. Bats leave a distinctive mark in an office building. Pollens of Hawaii is a new addition. Only 15 plants at this time but it will grow.

Smoke Damage

Smoke Damage contains a particle signature of the source. House fires, forest fires, brush fires, fireplace smoke, industrial fires, cigarettes, trucks, kitchen fires, etc. all leave a characteristic signature. Some of the particles that mark these sources are shown here.

Where Did That Hair Come From?

Did you know animals can be identified by their hair?

Small Particle Characterization

Particles as small as 4 nanometers can be "seen" using the light microscope. Important information about particles smaller than 2 micrometers and fibers with diameters below 0.1 micrometers can be gathered with a light microscope. Check out these two sites: Atmospheric Particles Smaller than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5) and Asbestos fibers with diameters below 0.5 micrometers.

Bee Pollen

Bee Pollen is the pollen collected by bees to feed the hive. It is collected and sold as food supliment. Honey pollen is the pollen from the plants that went into a specific batch of honey. A few examples are Pollen from Australian Honey,pollen from Hawaiian Honey, pollen from California cactus honey and others. See the index for the pollens in honey from different locations (listed under Honey From) or to pollens listed by plant, by family, or by feature in the index under "Pollen". Go to the general pollen file for a guide to pollens in general.

Particles in Transformer Oil

The large transformers in Sub-Stations are filled with thousands of gallons of oil. The particles that are in the oil provide a history of the transformer. This file shows some of those particles. I will be adding information on what each particle type means in the future but for now you can see the types that are there at: Transformer oil particles.

Misc

Just For Fun

Particles By Environment

Home
Office
School
Construction or Remodeling Debris
Print Shop
Auto Body Shop
Warehouse
Machine Shop

Aluminum (by Cs₂SO₄)
Ammonium (by H₂PtCl₆)
Calcium (by H₂SO₄)
Chlorine (AgNO₃)
Electromotive Substitution
Lead (by KI)
Manganese (by NaCO₃ Fusion)
Reduced Sulfur (by NaN₃)
Sodium Chloride
Sulfate (by AgNO₃)
Nitrate (by Nitron Sulfate)
Zinc (by K₂Hg(SCN)₄)

(Dispersion Staining is an analytical technique that uses colors created by differences in dispersion) Becke' Line Dispersion Staining
Oblique Illumination Dispersion Staining
Dark Field Dispersion Staining
Objective Stop Dispersion Staining
Phase Contrast Dispersion Staining

Electrical

Breakers
Brushings
Micro-electronic
Transformers
Tap Changers

Fibers

Quick Overview of Fibers in General

Asbestos Fibers (Legally Controlled mineral fibers)
Clothing Fibers (Fibers used to make textiles)
Feather Barbules (Individual elongated elements from feathers)
Glass Fibers (Man-made vitreous fiber)
Hair (Mammalian)
Insect Fibers (Silks)
Insect Hair (Setae, scales, bristles, etc.)
Mineral Fibers (Much higher tensile strength along long axis)
Paper Fibers (Fibers used in paper)
Plant Fibers (Elongated integral elements within the body of the plant)
Plant Hairs (Elongated elements that form on the surface of the plant)
Synthetic Fibers (Man-made polymer fibers)

Aerosols
Marine (Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate)
Vehicle (Nitrates, Sulfates)
Industrial Emissions
Composite Fabrication Shop
Cement Manufacture
Flyash
Furniture Manufacture
Glass Manufacture
Grain Mills
Iron Fabrication
Maintenance Shop
Publishing Facility
Weld Shop
Road Debris
Cenospheres
Road Dust
Tire Wear
Vehicle Emissions