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Contents of 2.3 How do we know the atomic structure of minerals?

2.3 How do we know the <br />atomic structure of minerals?

• How do geologists visualize atoms inside minerals?
• Optical microscope has ~1000x limit
• Limit of 0.001 mm - too large for atoms
• TEM - transmission electron microscope
• 10,000,000x magnification has limit ~0.000001 mm
• Can resolve atoms, but edges of
• electron cloud appear indistinct