Advanced Microscopy Techniques

Geological Research

Delve into Earth's physical structure and the forces that shape it
with ZEISS Microscopy Solutions

Advance Our Understanding of Geology Whether studying the Earth's composition, structure, or processes, microscopy plays a crucial role in understanding the intricate relationships that define geological phenomena. Explore the latest ZEISS microscopy solutions which aid researchers in analyzing geological samples across length scales, through dimensions, and under various conditions. From powerful automated petrographic techniques to advanced data analysis and management systems, these tools are essential for revealing the mineralogical and chemical characteristics of samples, ranging from thin sections to meteorites, thereby enhancing our understanding of Earth's physical structure and the forces that shape it.

Useful Automation

Automate and digitize your petrographic investigations.
Comprehensive 2D/3D Mineralogy

Capture quantitative mineral analyses and comprehensive geochemical interrogations.
Needed Data Collation

Effortlessly collect and store your data from multiple sources, to be shared with your global collaborators.

Decode the secrets and stories told by the geological records

Discover the tools and methods used for breakthroughs in geoscience

Investigate Sediment Formation

Utilize automated measurements of grain size and shape to analyze the environmental conditions that shaped Earth’s geological features.

Investigate Igneous & Metamorphic Rock

Analyze and describe magmatic, volcanic, and metamorphic processes using advanced 2D/3D microscopy and deep learning to enhance our understanding of the dynamic forces shaping our world.

Rework Tailings

Overcome gold and PGM losses in mine tailings by integrating high-resolution X-ray microscopy with quantitative chemical analysis and detailed mineralogical classification.

Automated Thin-Section Petrography

Automate your petrography workflows for efficient imaging across hundreds of slides and leverage advanced software for detailed data management and interpretation. Explore mineral textures, structures, and compositions with multimodal imaging capabilities, enhancing your understanding of Earth's geological intricacies

ZEISS Digital Slide Scanner Axioscan 7

Connect Your Data for Next-Level Insights

Bridge Light and Electron Microscopy

Correlate your optical petrography with SEM/EDS/EBSD data in a streamlined and registered workflow—gaining context and facilitating multi-scale investigations.

ZEISS ZEN core Microscopy Software

Master Your Data.

Data Management Solutions for Geoscience

Collect and manage diverse imaging data with integrated tools for advanced analysis and visualization, facilitating new discoveries, collaboration and efficient data management.

ZEISS arivis Hub Software

Recommended Products for Geoscience

Identify Phases and Analyze Texture in 2D and 3D
ZEISS Phase Identifier

ZEISS Phase Identifier is an AI-powered software solution tailored for geoscientists to streamline phase analysis of rocks and minerals. Seamlessly integrated with ZEISS microscopes, it enables automated identification and quantification of mineral phases in multi-modal datasets. By leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms, Phase Identifier delivers fast, accurate, and reproducible results, supporting detailed characterization of geological samples.

Explore Phase Idenitifier

Choose Phase Identifier if you need:
AI-Powered Mineral Analysis: Automatically identify and quantify mineral phases in complex geological datasets.

Multi-Modal Integration: Combine imaging data from various modalities for comprehensive mineral characterization.

User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive workflows designed for geoscientists, enabling efficient analysis of rock and mineral samples.
Learn more
Thin Section Slide Scanning for Digitization of Petrography Data
ZEISS Axioscan 7

The ZEISS Axioscan 7 employs various polarization techniques to enhance sample features, including plane polarized light (PPL) and crossed polarized light (XPL). Combined with ZEISS AI-based segmentation, it automates analysis across multiple samples, allowing intuitive labeling of mineral phases and creating a detailed model of mineralogy.

Explore Axioscan 7

Choose Axioscan 7 if you need:
Digitize up to 100 thin sections in PPL/XPL (multi‑orientation), circular polarization, and TIE.

AI petrography: automated mineral classification plus PetPAT grain orientation mapping.

Coregistered channels for robust segmentation, easy sharing, and correlation with SEM‑EDS (Phase Identifier AI).
Learn more
For the Highest Demands in Electron Imaging and Analytics
ZEISS GeminiSEM

ZEISS electron microscopes provide a stable and expandable platform for a range of microanalytical techniques, allowing for energy dispersive and wavelength dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS/WDS), micro X-ray fluorescence (uXRF) mapping, RAMAN microspectroscopy, electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), and cathodoluminescence (CL) to be performed on the same sample in the same instrument concurrently.

Explore GeminiSEM

Choose GeminiSEM if you need:
Maintain capability and flexibility while being budget conscious.

The ZEN Core EM user interface focuses on ease-of-use and time-to-results.

Choose from the widest selection of detectors and in situ systems to tackle any imaging need.
Learn more
Reveal internal structures and phased at high-resolution
ZEISS Versa

Like the Context microCT, the Versa allows you to nondestructively characterize internal structures, study porosity, and analyze mineral distributions in core samples, rocks, and fossils. But the Versa allows without compromising resolution makes it ideal for multi-scale workflows, from whole core imaging to sub-micron details. Integrated with ZEISS software, the Versa streamlines data analysis and enhances decision-making in resource exploration, geoscience research, and environmental studies.

Explore Versa

Product features
In situ 3D mineralogy: classify phases, quantify mineral textures and spatial relationships.

Faster throughput: no mechanical prep or flat surfaces needed.

Non-destructive: preserve precious samples; enable correlative studies.
Learn more

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ZEISS Research Essentials

Analyze mineral textures and structures with precise stereo imaging
ZEISS Discovery.V8

Reveal the smallest details with the 8:1 zoom. Discovery.V8 offers modular flexibility and ergonomic comfort for long hours of work.

Trial, get a Quote or Purchase here
Analyze mineral samples with efficient imaging and documentation
ZEISS Axiolab 5

Capture and analyze mineral details with ease. Axiolab 5 combines efficient imaging, integrated documentation, and ergonomic design for extended geoscience workflows.

Trial, get a Quote or Purchase here
Study microstructures of rocks with advanced imaging precision
ZEISS Axioscope

Examine intricate rock microstructures with precision. Axioscope offers advanced imaging, modular flexibility, and robust design for demanding geoscience tasks.

Trial, get a Quote or Purchase here

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Complete your lab

with our new solution bundles

You can enhance your Geoscience Research with the following solutions

Configure your Stemi 508

ZEISS offers a variety of microscopy techniques critical for geoscience research, including:

Light Microscopy: from simple stereo microscopes to advanced multi-pol widefield microscopes, to slide scanners, the ZEISS LM portfolio addresses the full breadth of Geoscience applications from petrology, lithology, and even liberation studies.
Electron Microscopy: provides advanced high-resolution imaging and analytical capabilities for geoscience applications. Explore mineral shapes, growth patterns and relationships with other phases, all at high-resolution. Investigate the surface structure and texture of microfossils Foraminifera, Diatoms, and pollen.
FIB-SEM Microscopy: Uncover sub-surface details of your specimens at high-resolution, with automation, precision and stability. Investigate intergrowth of minerals, grain boundary structure and composition, and microscopic inclusions.
X-ray Microscopy: Provides non-destructive, high-resolution 3D imaging of your samples. Investigate internal structures and mineralogy. Discover not only mineral phases, but their relationships, textures, and liberation, across large volumes.

These techniques form a comprehensive, multi-modal set of applications to reveal the features and compositions of Geoscience materials.
How can ZEISS microscopy solutions be used for Geoscience Research:

Accelerating mineral identification and chemistry: 2D automated mineralogy and geochemistry on SEM (e.g., Sigma, GeminiSEM, Phase Identifier) streamline mineral phase mapping and quantitative analysis, reducing multi-instrument workflows and time-to-results.
Enabling non-destructive 3D insights: X-ray microscopy (Versa, Xradia Context) and Phase Identifier 3D reveal internal structures, mineral distributions, pore/fracture networks, and ore localization inside intact samples (including precious fossils and meteorites), eliminating destructive prep and preserving context.
Automating petrography at scale: Axioscan 7 Geo digitizes up to 100 thin sections per run in PPL/XPL/circular polarization, with AI-driven segmentation, mineral classification, and orientation mapping (PetPAT) for quantitative petrography, remote collaboration, and collection digitization.
Powering data-driven decisions and correlative workflows: AI-based segmentation and analytics, plus correlative optical–electron–X-ray workflows, let researchers link texture, mineralogy, and 3D structure across sedimentology, petrology, paleontology, planetary geology, ore body research, mineral physics, and education.
Yes, ZEISS provides various case studies, application notes, and educational resources that highlight how our microscopy systems are advancing nanomaterials research. Here are a few examples:

Understanding Geologic Carbon Sequestration through Multi-Scale Imaging | ZEISS
Bursting the Bubble on Kerogen-based Digital Rock Physics
Automated Mineral Classification and Measurement

These are just a few examples—explore our website to discover more resources tailored to your geoscience research needs.

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Geological Research

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