The Vancouver Island Palaeontological Society are holding the VIPS and North Island College thin section workshop on Saturday, January 11th. This link gives you an idea of the process and tools involved.
Randal Mindell, research scientist and paleo-botanist will lead the thin section workshop. Lucas Evans, the NIC lab technician, will provide the facilities and be our host. The NIC lab will accommodate up to 15 people, so prior registration is advised.
The workshop will start at 10:00 am and go until 3:30 pm with a lunch break. Bring your best fossil wood specimen.
Here is the day’s schedule:
- Randal will do a Power Point presentation covering the general procedure of the thin section process.
- You will use the specimen of fossil wood you brought and cut it with the rock saw to create the clean surface for the thin section.
- Once the fossil is cut and the new surface exposed, Randal will assist in the preparation and the grinding or polishing process.
- Preparation of the thin section with the acetate peel will be completed and ready for viewing under the microscope.
- Viewing of the actual fossil wood cells of the should be amazing.
- Determining the genus of the fossil wood by review and comparison to the record may be possible.
- Where: – North Island College- 2300 Ryan Road Courtenay, Raven building, near the front entrance, upstairs in the NIC Lab .
- When: – 10:00-3:30? Saturday January 11th, 2020 ( Bring a lunch or go to the NIC cafeteria)
- Workshop Cost: – $20 (all materials supplied)
- Contact Betty Franklin for registration using cheque or e-transfer at beetlejean@gmail.com