<p>I had asked the same question on ResearchGate and got some good feedback. So anyone who is interested in this kind of methodology can follow the link below.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_best_way_to_mount_white_mica_separates" rel="nofollow">https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_best_way_to_mount_white_mica_separates</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-06T13:18:50.997Z
2016-07-06T13:18:50.997Z
Ton
<p>I have detrital mica separates that I would like to mount in EpoThin resin for microprobe analysis and I would simply like to know the best method for mounting them. With zircons you can mount on double sided tape and then simply pour the resin over them. But with micas I am worried that they will not peel away easily from the tape once the resin has cured. I am also concerned about polishing them. Any advice would be much appreciated. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-30T15:21:30.847Z
Isn't the question more appropriate for the [Biology.SE](http://biology.stackexchange.com/)?
daniel.heydebreck
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-30T15:52:29.543Z
@daniel.neumann Thank you for the interest and suggestion but I am not sure I understand why you think this is more related to the biological sciences. Detrital micas and detrital zircons are commonly used in sedimentary provenance studies and, certainly with zircons, they are mounted in epoxy resin for analysis by LA-ICP-MS.
Ton
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-06-30T16:12:06.733Z
Sorry ... . They sounded like names of bateria or algae.
daniel.heydebreck
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-01T08:39:41.527Z
No problem! White mica (or muscovite) is a K-Al phyllosilicate (sheet silicate). Zircon is a highly refractory zirconium nesosilicate. Both are used extensively in geochronology and sediment provenance studies.
Ton
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-01T12:34:49.347Z
If they're flat, you might not even need to polish them. Anyway, i just sprinkle them on the tape, then add the epoxy on top. I don't think orientation is important
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-06T23:44:29.410Z
I'm surprised orientation wouldn't be important since the surface charge on the edges should be different from the faces and there could be differential alteration.
haresfur
<geology><sedimentology>
What is the best way to mount white mica separates?
Ton
# What is the best way to mount white mica separates?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-06-30)

I have detrital mica separates that I would like to mount in EpoThin resin for microprobe analysis and I would simply like to know the best method for mounting them. With zircons you can mount on double sided tape and then simply pour the resin over them. But with micas I am worried that they will not peel away easily from the tape once the resin has cured. I am also concerned about polishing them. Any advice would be much appreciated.

**Tags:** geology, sedimentology

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Isn't the question more appropriate for the [Biology.SE](http://biology.stackexchange.com/)?  
> **username_0**: @daniel.neumann Thank you for the interest and suggestion but I am not sure I understand why you think this is more related to the biological sciences. Detrital micas and detrital zircons are commonly used in sedimentary provenance studies and, certainly with zircons, they are mounted in epoxy resin for analysis by LA-ICP-MS.  
> **username_1**: Sorry ... . They sounded like names of bateria or algae.  
> **username_0**: No problem! White mica (or muscovite) is a K-Al phyllosilicate (sheet silicate). Zircon is a highly refractory zirconium nesosilicate. Both are used extensively in geochronology and sediment provenance studies.  
> **username_2**: If they're flat, you might not even need to polish them. Anyway, i just sprinkle them on the tape, then add the epoxy on top. I don't think orientation is important  
> **username_3**: I'm surprised orientation wouldn't be important since the surface charge on the edges should be different from the faces and there could be differential alteration.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2016-07-06. Score: 2

I had asked the same question on ResearchGate and got some good feedback. So anyone who is interested in this kind of methodology can follow the link below.

<https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_is_the_best_way_to_mount_white_mica_separates>


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