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Plain light with the first filter (above), crossed-polarized light with both filters (below) in a volcanic lithic fragment (sand grain). Scale box in millimeters.

Leica DMRX incident light microscope with mechanical stage and Swift F automated point counter for analysis of organic composition of coal and rock samples

Thin sections under a microscope.

Photomicrograph of a thin section of gabbro in cross-polarized light

A petrographic microscope is a type of optical microscope used to identify rocks and minerals in thin sections. The microscope is used in optical mineralogy and petrography, a branch of petrology which focuses on detailed descriptions of rocks. The method includes aspects of polarized light microscopy (PLM).